People Before Policies: The Art of Being Human (with Stéphane Grenier)

Host Christi Scarrow and Stéphane Grenier, founder of Mental Health Innovations Consulting, discussed his leadership journey, emphasizing the “leaders eat last” philosophy—putting employee needs before personal interests. Grenier criticized rigid organizational policies and stressed flexible, people-first leadership. He also called out token mental health initiatives like Mental Health Awareness Week and Bell Let's Talk Day, advocating instead for cultures built on genuine care and peer support. He emphasized that shifting organizational culture to support mental health is a long-term, patient process.

Action Items

-Establish a culture of care where employees feel empowered to support each other.-Avoid short-term fixes; commit to a multi-year process for lasting mental health support.-Be patient and persistent—results may not be immediate, but they will come.

Outline

Leadership Lessons from the Military

-Stéphane recalls his military leadership experiences, where inspiring people mattered more than raising voices.

-He embraced the “leaders eat last” mindset—leaders ensure employees have what they need to thrive.

-Success comes from focusing on people, not just performance metrics.

Balancing Performance and Individual Needs

-Stéphane argues for policies that are flexible and adaptable to real human needs.

-He critiques rigid bereavement rules and shares a general’s advice: make exceptions when policies fail people.

-Leaders must be courageous and prioritize humanity over uniformity.

The Role of Policies and Flexibility

-Policies should guide, not dictate, leadership behavior.

-Leaders need the courage to bend policies when necessary to support their people.

-A people-first approach sometimes requires risk tolerance and rule-bending.

Creating a Culture of Care

-Stéphane critiques symbolic gestures like awareness weeks, which lack lasting impact.

-True care comes from continuous, meaningful efforts to value and support staff.

-Leaders must cultivate environments where peer support is natural and encouraged.

Empowering Peers for Support

-Leaders should not try to do everything alone—they must enable peer support systems.

-It’s about creating an open, trusting culture where employees reach out to one another.

-Employees should feel seen, supported, and valued by both leaders and peers.

The Long-Term Investment in Mental Health

-Stéphane identifies three leadership mindsets: dismissive, complacent, and transformational.

-Only those committed to real change will see deep, lasting results.

-Organizational culture shifts are slow but worth the time and effort.

The Importance of Patience and Long-Term Investment

-Culture change is like buying an air conditioner—it’s a long-term investment, not an instant fix.

-Leaders must stay focused on building the right conditions and be prepared to wait for results.

-Consistent effort pays off in the form of sustainable well-being and improved morale.

The Role of Leaders in Setting Conditions

-Leaders don’t need all the answers—they need to create the right environment for support to flourish.

-Empowering others is key to a strong, self-sustaining cultu