Why Your Team Needs Mental Space, Not Another Pizza Party
Honestly, I love a good celebration. Keeping the energy high in a team is huge. But recently, I realized a hard truth: While parties build excitement, they don’t fix burnout.
I saw something the other day that stopped me in my tracks.
One of my teammates was working from the back of a moving taxi. Her laptop was open, and she was frantically trying to answer emails while the city lights blurred past her window.
Seeing that felt heavy.
It made me realize that no amount of "Great Job!" emails, pizza parties, or team-bonding activities can fix that kind of pressure.
The Real Cost of "Fun" vs. Safety
We often confuse "fun" with "culture." But research shows that psychologically safe teams are 76% more engaged than those that just focus on perks.
When your team is overwhelmed, they aren't signaling for more entertainment—they are signaling for more mental space.
But what does "mental space" actually look like in a high-performance environment? To me, it usually comes down to three pillars:
Autonomy: The freedom to own the "how."
Safety: The ability to speak up without fear.
Focus: Having enough room to think, not just react.
If your team is drowning in noise and urgency, they can't perform. As leaders, we need to shift our focus from "How can I celebrate your growth?" to "How can I support you to achieve your career aspirations without burning out?"
Here are three small leadership shifts I’ve been trying—and that you can use today—to lower the pressure and unlock potential.
1. Delegate to Empower, Not Just to "Dump"
Delegation is often misunderstood. It shouldn't just be moving a task off my plate to theirs because I'm too busy. True delegation is giving them full ownership.
The Shift: Instead of assigning a rigid task list, try saying:
"You have the space to decide how to do this to achieve our aligned goals. I trust your approach."
This moves the dynamic from "following orders" to "owning the outcome," which reduces anxiety and builds confidence.
2. Change the Scenery to Spark Honesty
If someone looks stressed, asking "Are you okay?" across a desk in a stiff meeting room rarely works. The environment itself feels like a performance review.
The Shift: Change the physical location. Try saying:
"Let’s go grab a coffee outside."
Moving physical locations changes the energy. Walking side-by-side rather than sitting face-to-face signals safety. That is when the authentic conversations about workload and stress actually happen.
3. Align on 'Less' to Achieve 'More'
Stress spikes when everything feels urgent. When a team feels like everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority.
The Shift: Actively discuss what to deprioritize. Ask your team: "What is the priority right now, and why?"
Then, co-design a "Not-To-Do" List. When you give your team explicit permission to ignore certain tasks to focus on the ones that matter, you empower them to place their energy where it counts.
The Bottom Line
Celebrations and pizza parties lift the mood, but do you know what keeps top talent around? Knowing you care about their well-being, not just their output.
Don't just applaud the hustle. As a leader, it is your job to help make it sustainable.
Your Turn: When was the last time you felt truly supported at work—not just thanked? I’d love to hear your story.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yina Han, Founder of New Bloom Consulting & Coaching and featured top voice in Singapore’s SG60 by New in Asia, is a seasoned HR leader who delivers 300+ coaching hours annually to clients in 6+ countries, guiding them through global career transitions. She also trains leaders at top luxury and Fortune 100 brands to elevate leadership impact, and drive sustainable career success.
Connect with Yina to transform your career with confidence and clarity.