Demands of modern life is increasingly eroding the standards of health and wellbeing, at a cost to Australia’s economy; $34 billon per year according to Corporate Bodies International (CBI).
As business climates change, organisations are forced to standout from their competitors; whether or not their workforce is prepared to be more effective, resilient and productive. Shorter deadlines, increased workload and higher expectations on employees to do more with less contribute to psychosocial factors in the workplace. To be effective and resilient, employees need to have a more balanced physical, mental and social wellbeing.
To this end, it is in the best interest of employers to support and incentivise workers to manage their own health and wellbeing. As a result, employers are likely to see an increase in productivity and performance. Let me explain how…
Factors such as smoking, drinking, lack of physical activity and excess weight contribute to a workers morale and ability to manage stress. But how do you motivate a workforce to get healthy and active when it’s not in line with their lifestyle or noble goal in life?
Leaders may need to engage with employees to better understand their goals, challenges and interests. These are important factors in knowing what incentivises an unhealthy worker to become a healthy, productive worker.
What if they don’t know the answer? What if their lifestyle habits have always involved them sitting in front of the TV, eating fast food or being drink dependent for example? As their leader, how can you motivate and inspire them to shift from being “couch potato” to fit and healthy?
It’s suggested that there is a direct correlation between quality of life and health with one’s level of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Employees with a balanced EQ are more likely to have the intrinsic motivation, optimism and purpose to want to be successful in both their personal and professional lives. The beauty of EQ is that it’s a flexible set of skills anyone can develop, and with the right coaching and guidance, individuals can increase their overall resilience, effectiveness and happiness in life.
It’s becoming more necessary for employers to build a workforce with a balanced physical, mental and social wellbeing. The reward, organisations will see an increase in productivity and performance.
Author: Hannah Coombes, Emotous | Published: Friday, 2nd September 2022
