Global brokerage Gallagher has released a guide to help leaders improve workplace wellbeing.
The guide outlines various strategies that could create a positive and supportive environment, enabling healthy behaviours.
“While everyone in the organisation can contribute to, and impact, workplace wellbeing, a leader [plays] a critical role when it comes to the health and wellbeing of the people within [their] team and the broader organisation,” Gallagher said. “As well as implementing approaches that support the health and wellbeing of [their] people, leaders should lead by example and demonstrate behaviours that promote a culture of wellbeing.”
Scheduling frequent meetings with employees enables leaders to support and discuss work projects, tasks, roadblocks, and development priorities, and provide a platform to get to know the employees personally, according to Gallagher.
“By regularly taking time to talk with your people, you start to understand what matters to each individual, and you can start to understand their ‘normal.’ It can be difficult to gauge if a person is not doing well if you're not sure what their baseline is,” it said – noting that some employees want to focus on work-related topics during one-on-one meetings, while others open up about their personal goals and challenges.
Enabling employees to interact in a social activity or challenge helps develop relationships by providing a fun way for people to connect, as per the guide.
“There are lots of ideas to be found via your internet search engine – from active challenges to online games that will have your team thinking fast, getting creative, and using their general knowledge,” it said. “There's something for every team, but it's important as a leader to consider activities that are work appropriate and inclusive.”
Gallagher said organisations do not need to implement a formal mentoring program to ensure successful mentorship; leaders can connect their team member with someone in the organisation to catch up monthly.
The brokerage noted that meaningful relationships are the main predictor of life satisfaction. Specifically, being a mentor has been linked to greater job satisfaction, job performance, organisational commitment, and career success.
Gallagher's guide advised leaders to invest in their employees by providing training and development – including getting them engaged to side projects, cross-functional training, and “shadowing,” where an employee shadows another employee to learn about their role, duties, and responsibilities, enabling them to develop skills in another area. Leaders may also provide employees with free online training courses.
The guide said providing training and development provides employees with numerous benefits, including:
According to Gallagher, enabling people to stay active during the day and informing them that they are allowed and encouraged to get up from their desks every hour to stretch is an excellent way to improve employees' health and wellbeing.
Other fitness and health initiatives include:
