The Importance of Well-being
Prioritizing Well-being: The Personal and Professional
Let’s talk about well-being. What’s driving your wellness these days? As we near the end of a historic year, and what many are calling the world’s largest work-from-home experiment, there’s no better time to check-in with ourselves and our teams about this important topic.
Well-being is no longer just an individual matter, but an organizational one. Just as Strengths-based organizations perform better, so do ones where leaders prioritize employee well-being — the benefits of which start with employee engagement and extend to personal and business benefits.
In this third and final installment of my Remote Work series, let’s dive into some actionable and holistically beneficial areas of focus for cultivating workplace well-being.
Workplace Well-being
It’s no surprise Gallup reported heightened levels of stress and worry throughout 2020. The data tell us that remote workers experienced well-being challenges spanning the physical, mental, emotional, and social sectors.
In a 2017 study examining stress in the workplace, Gallup found that those who were engaged, worked in an organization that applied strengths in the workplace, and had thriving well-being stood a 1% chance of being highly stressed. When none of the criteria were met, that number jumped to 43%.
The study also showed that companies who invested in their employees' strengths and actively worked to help them find ways to stay healthy reported fewer stressed workers.
Applying CliftonStrengths insights is an impactful way to create work cultures that leverage and respect individual strengths. Leaders who use that knowledge to guide decision-making and managerial styles have the power to reduce stress for individuals.
If this sounds like an intimidating undertaking, it’s important to remember leaders don't need to be mental health experts to create well-being, they just need to point employees to the right resources.
If you’re ready to create greater workplace well-being, here are a few ways to get started:
Get social!
Zoom gatherings create stronger team relationships. When employees have an opportunity to get personal by introducing pets, children, or sharing hobbies, it creates more authentic connections. The larger secondary benefit here is that it creates a work environment conducive to friendship for social well-being.
Get moving!
Leaders who create well-being initiatives and encourage employees to participate are leading by example and encouraging individuals to get active and experiment with new ways to live healthy lives — benefits which show in workplace productivity, engagement, and satisfaction in virtually every facet.
Get comfortable!
With so many of us making the move to home offices, ensuring our workspaces meet our body's needs is crucial, especially knowing we spend upwards of 8 hours a day there! Sharing free resources and even your own work setup is a great way to make sure your team is set up for success.
Get happy!
Prioritizing self-care over a long to-do list is easier said than done for many. That’s why it’s especially important for leaders to communicate the importance of self-care which can be anything from staying on top of your mental and emotional health to intentionally using your strengths. Gallup research found that those who spent more time actively engaging their strengths experienced less worry, stress, anger, sadness, and pain.
Employee well-being isn't something leaders can afford to overlook and in today’s climate, it’s more important than ever. Leaders who prioritize employee well-being will see first-hand how it correlates to engagement and in turn, a host of personal and business benefits, but these gains all start with a commitment to prioritizing the practices it takes to get there.
As we head into the holidays and the end of the year, there’s no better time to evaluate how 2020 has changed your needs, the needs of your employees, and how best to meet them. If you’re looking to make some positive changes in your own life or organization and need a little help, I’m here to provide support and guidance for reaching your own well-being pinnacle.