Unfortunately, air quality is high across the globe, exceeding WHO guideline limits in majority of the world. Beyond the climate impact, air pollution can hurt physical and mental health. Today, we share new research that uncovers how air pollution leads to poor leader behaviors.
Air Pollution Ruins Moods
Most of us understand the links between air quality and physical health. I’ve experienced extreme air quality issues during some major fires in California and in some of my travels. When air quality is really bad, you can feel it in your throat and eyes. I could feel the impact pretty quickly. However, most of us don’t consider the mental health impacts of air pollution. Yet, it can cause a number of issues, including things like anxiety and depression.
A lot of the research on air pollution looks at longer exposure but recent research finds some immediate impacts as well. Experiencing poor air quality can lead to a more immediate change in mood – for the worse. Basically, bad air can lead to a bad mood! As you can imagine, a bad mood can really impact work too.
Bad Mood = Bad Leader Behavior
People don’t do well when they aren’t feeling well. Bad moods often lead to bad behavior. In the workplace, research shows that when the air quality is bad, leaders’ moods sour and leaders begin to behave badly. Specifically, they engage in either defensive or withdrawal behaviors. You’ve likely heard of ‘fight or flight’ before. Same idea applies here. Basically, poor air quality leads to increased stress (and bad moods) which leads to leaders wanting to fight or flee.
What does this look like for employees? When leaders ‘fight’, they participate in more abusive supervisory behaviors. They pick fights and make fun of team members. Employees experience a more toxic work environment. When leaders ‘flee’, they withdraw. They avoid important leadership tasks like stepping in when employee escalate issues. Employees stop getting the support they need.
In sum, air pollution impacts not only the leader experiencing the bad air quality but those around them. It can create toxic workplaces and impact the well-being of everyone involved.
What Can You Do?
What can be done to help employees and to improve well-being? Air quality seems like a huge thing to solve. Organizations, of course, can do their part in reducing the ways they pollute. But, beyond those important, long-term steps, companies can think of smaller ways to help leaders and their employees.
First, organizations can consider policies for flexibility and remote work. When air quality is bad in the area, allowing people to stay home to avoid a toxic commute (and contribute less to the pollution) can go a long way. Additionally, time off policies can account for air pollution sickness. Ensuring people have enough sick days can help them cope and take time for themselves. Finally, companies can provide masks and air purifiers to help limit exposure to poor air quality.
