![Bad sleep causes more psychological stress, or the other way around?
In any case, leadership has a major impact, you'll find out why.
50 years of research uncovered humans have 3 universal psychological needs:
→ Autonomy: I feel like I can safely be myself and make my own choices.
→ Belonging: I feel respected, understood, and cared for.
→ Competence: I feel that my skills and contributions are valued
Getting these 3 needs satisfied is strongly linked to better sleep, less anxiety, and less depression symptoms.
(P.S. Chi Lueng Chiu recently posited a 4th: the “need for justice”.)
=== How to apply ===
1️. Do important work you're good at.
Ideally it aligns with your personal values (for example Social justice, Pleasure, National security, etc.), and your skills should be in the spotlight.
This enhances sense of Autonomy and Competence.
→ A manager/leader can facilitate this by “putting someone in their strength”
2️. Invest in colleague relationships.
For example learn more about their personal interests, openly and acceptingly listen to their life struggles, etc. This enhances Belonging.
→ A manager/leader can facilitate this by advocating regular one-on-ones between his team member.
3️. Find work with a better manager.
Need-supportive managers begin from the employee perspective and:
→ Encourage self-initiation and self-direction (autonomy)
→ Remain positive that the employee can succeed (competence)
→ Develop a warm interpersonal climate (belonging) [9].
[Comment “NL” to receive the Dutch slideshow.]
Study references (and Pubmed IDs):
1. Meta-analysis Lim & Dinges (2010): 20438143
2. Curcio et al. (2006): 16564189
3. Meta-analysis Benca et al. (1992): 1386215
4. Strine & Chapman (2005): 15680291
5. Nedeltcheva et al. (2010): 20921542
6. Wang et al. (2018): 29438540
7. Deci & Ryan (2007): The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior.
8. Niemiec et al. (2022): 35139261
9. Ng et al. (2012): 26168470
10. Campbell et al. (2006): University students’ sleep during an exam period: the role of basic psychological needs and stress
11. Campbell et al. (2008): Examining the role of psychological n](https://stijnvanwilligen.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
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