Is Staff Wellbeing Just a Tick-Box Exercise or a Strategic Investment in Performance?
Written by Lisa Skeffington, Psychotherapist
Lisa Skeffington is a psychotherapist and thought leader shaping the future of mental health. She is the founder of the Empowered Momentum Community and hosts coastal escapes empowering high-functioning mid-life women to authentically remove the mask they wear in their outwardly successful life; author of the book From Anxious to Empowered.
In boardrooms across the UK and beyond, the topic of employee wellbeing is frequently on the agenda. But behind the polished policies and the occasional yoga class or mental health mindset day, a pressing question lingers: Do companies genuinely care about employee wellbeing, or is it all just about the numbers?
Lisa Skeffington, multi-award-winning Consultant Psychotherapist and CEO/Founder of Empowered Momentum Ltd, believes it’s time to challenge the status quo.
“Too often, senior leaders and teams are praised for resilience while silently burning out,” she explains. “They’re expected to maintain performance, hit targets, and lead others, even when their emotional reserves are running on empty.”
The hidden cost of high performance
The data speaks volumes. According to Deloitte’s 2024 UK Mental Health Report:
Mental health issues cost UK employers £56 billion annually, a staggering increase from £45 billion just four years ago.
Presenteeism, employees showing up but functioning at low capacity, is now the biggest contributor to this loss.
72% of senior leaders report feeling “significantly overwhelmed,” yet only 16% feel comfortable seeking internal support.
And with leadership burnout on the rise, the implications ripple far beyond the C-suite.
“When leaders are emotionally exhausted, decision-making suffers, relationships strain, and entire teams feel the impact,” Lisa says. “This isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a strategic one.”
Rethinking workplace wellbeing
Lisa’s approach to workplace wellness goes far beyond the typical stress management workshop. Her signature coastal escapes and wellness events offer an immersive experience for professionals and leadership teams to reset, regulate, and reconnect.
Set on the tranquil Dorset coast by a beautiful beach nature reserve, these retreats are designed to collapse time, offering two days of meaningful, restorative space that leads to months of benefit, with personal growth and wellbeing proven to sustain into the longer term.
“We blend nature therapy, psychodynamic mentoring, and strategic communication tools,” she explains. “Leaders return to work clearer, calmer, and more emotionally agile, ready to inspire and influence, and lead with confidence.”
This isn't about escapism. It’s an opportunity to recharge and reset. It's about empowered return.
Why it pays to prioritise mental resilience
McKinsey’s research reveals that organisations with effective wellbeing programs report:
4x more employee engagement
3x the retention of top talent
25% higher profitability on average
What’s more, companies that proactively support mental health are more likely to innovate, attract top talent, and foster trust across all levels of leadership.
One of Lisa’s private clients, in her Finance Director role, said this of her experience:
“As a result of personal circumstances, I understood that I wasn't really operating at my best, but I needed to because in my new role, I was operating at a higher level.
"I understood my resilience, which I wore proudly, wasn't serving me well anymore, and the overwhelm wasn't going away. I needed some support and understanding of why...
I interviewed six recommended coaches, and when I had a chat with Lisa, our energies matched. The other coaches weren't even comparable, even though they'd come from senior people in my network. I didn’t want merely a work mentor; I was seeking more balanced support. Rather than just corporate business coaching, Lisa’s psychodynamic approach integrates personal and professional aspects of an individual's life. And that’s actually what attracted me to Lisa, because I had a real intrinsic understanding of how you operate outside of work is intrinsically linked to how you operate inside of work."
I loved the trust and the fact that Lisa sat outside of my organization. It has been such a rich experience, and I haven’t looked back. These days, from a grounded place within myself, I’ve built confidence as a leader and role model, and I simply remove the noise. I am focused and stable emotionally under pressure, and consistent in a professional and self-assured way.”
In a post-pandemic world, the emotional literacy of a leadership team is no longer a luxury; it’s a competitive advantage.
Investing in people is investing in profits
People professionals and senior decision-makers are invited to experience Lisa Skeffington’s Workplace Wellness Initiatives firsthand on a dedicated preview day, equipping them to confidently commission these coastal escapes for their company’s senior leaders and teams. Individual professionals can also access this support privately for themselves.
“These initiatives aren’t about fluffy self-care,” Lisa clarifies. “They are robust, strategic interventions that empower your people to thrive; emotionally, mentally, and professionally.”
Discover how you or your team can reset, realign, and return stronger.
Learn more and book a private call with Lisa today here.
Because when you truly invest in people, the profits naturally follow.
Read more from Lisa Skeffington
Lisa Skeffington, Psychotherapist
Lisa Skeffington, Psychotherapist of the Year 2025/26, is the leading light for wounded women worldwide. Her own personal story, from trauma to triumph, led her to dedicate her support to mid-life women and their families to heal their emotional wounds so that they feel enough as they are, break free from anxiety, and communicate confidently in healthy relationships. Over her 25 years in mental health, she has developed a unique psychological approach with a seamless blend of psychological therapies, which she calls psychodynamic mentoring. Based on the UK Dorset coast, Lisa runs exclusive coastal escapes and one-day events helping women to remove the mask and thrive in their lives today, without excuse or apology.
