Business Leader Wellbeing

Financial pressures drive negative wellbeing for business leaders

As reflected in previous editions of the BDO Business Wellbeing Index, business financial concerns are the leading driver of negative wellbeing for business leaders. Of those who have been feeling less mentally healthy than usual, 64% say business finances have been a driver of this. 

On the upside, this number drops when thinking about the future, with 47% of leaders saying they expect to feel less mentally healthy due to business financial concerns in six months’ time. Our previous BDO Business Wellbeing Index reports have shown that business leaders tend to be more optimistic about their future prospects than their current ones. Cautious optimism concerning an economic recovery might also be contributing to their more positive outlook.

Linked to financial pressures are economic factors, which are the second leading driver of negative wellbeing in business life for our survey respondents. With business finances and economic pressures among the lowest-ranked business performance measures, it’s unsurprising that these are also driving negative wellbeing. 

Outside of these money matters, business leaders appear to be challenged with finding people to rely on for support, along with workload and employee concerns. 

Business leaders don’t have to go it alone. View our range of practical tips to help support you in navigating business and financial challenges here.

For resources on managing wellbeing, click here.

Climate change and environmental issues less of a concern for business leaders

Climate and environmental concerns now sit among the measures that are having the least impact on the mental health of business leaders. Few survey respondents report feeling less mentally healthy due to the transition risks associated with climate change, physical risks to infrastructure caused by climate change, or sustainability/ESG-related compliance.

This could suggest that New Zealand businesses are getting on top of their climate and environmental concerns, addressing risk factors and proactively preparing for any future weather events. It may also reflect leaders dealing with their more pressing concerns around business finances, the economy, and finding people to rely on for support, with environmental considerations perhaps falling by the wayside.

Top actions to manage wellbeing

Business leaders’ wellbeing has continued to decline since our March 2024 BDO Index, returning to low levels last seen in a year prior. To help address this, business leaders are taking a number of steps to stay mentally healthy in their business and personal lives. These include adopting flexible work practices, managing boundaries, socialising with friends and family, and getting enough sleep.