The New Business Strategy
It’s always crushing to read about employee burnout. While normalized, burnout is not simply stress, but a seemingly inescapable cycle that negatively impacts an individual’s health, family and performance in and out of the office.
We know the health and family repercussions of physical exhaustion, performance decline and cynicism (the three components of burnout) all too well after years of reiterating our wellbeing and culture assessment. And it is always darker than the water cooler complaints of being overworked.
However, it appears the results from a Deloitte 2022 study are finally advancing the conversation in a real way. The article suggests that, while the majority of the C-suite drastically underestimates how their employees are faring in regards to their health and wellbeing, they too are struggling.
With 1 in 3 employees and executives consistently facing mental health challenges, wellbeing strategy is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. And writers, journalists and business consultants are pushing the topic into the public space for all to see.
A culture that integrates wellbeing is the undeniable future of business.
At the outset of W3RKWELL five years ago, we began meeting with HR directors and managers. However, the power to approve wellbeing initiatives was solidly held in the C-suite, and most had yet to adopt wellbeing as a strategy, retention tool or performance enhancer, among other benefits. So our founder began coaching executives, first working with them so they could feel a personal sense of improved wellbeing.
When the executives experienced the value themselves, they were more likely to make an investment that would benefit their employees.
Experiencing for oneself builds trust, and most of us need social proof before making new investments. But holding a leadership title does not absolve us from the responsibility of checking in with our people and using our authority to create the changes necessary for those in our charge.
Similar to business metrics, the integration of wellbeing metrics are a streamlined, modern way to ensure we are always on top of our culture.
It is our hope that, now that the decision-makers are “officially” experiencing what many have for so long (and I can tell you that, at least by the numbers of leaders I’ve worked with, this is not new) wellbeing can take its place at the forefront of every company culture.
I’m truly excited and positive about where wellbeing will continue to integrate as we make intentional moves to evolve the way we work.
Every company has a business strategy.
What’s your wellbeing strategy?
