HR departments shape workplace culture for their companies. Through hiring, policy creation and daily operations, HR managers set the standard for employee’ professional performance and personal well-being. To empower employees to be their best, employee well-being and Human Performance programs work best when it’s driven by example by the C-suite. Executives set the tone, drive culture and allocate resources behind what they feel is a business imperative. Continue reading to learn how to shift leadership into a Human Performance driven lifestyle to create a culture of resilience and happier, healthier employees.
STRONG LEADERS MAKE TIME FOR HEALTH
There is a large amount of research, such as this study by HERO (Health Enhancement Research Organization), that demonstrate that healthy individuals find more professional success, fall ill less and are more productive than those who don’t prioritize their health. While many people want to find that type of success, less than 20% actually reach their goals to make a lasting lifestyle change, according to a study by The Human Resources Institute. The HRI also found that unsupportive environments are the primary deterrent to habit change. Fortunately, HR managers can create a supportive change environment for Human Performance with the help of leadership. To create a lasting movement in your workplace, relay to leaders just how crucial it is for them to champion a healthy lifestyle.
ENCOURAGE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE TIME FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS
Leaders like results. Show them this recent study of leaders who prioritize health in their day-to-day against those who do not regularly exercise. The healthy participant leaders scored higher on both the ESP (Executive Success Profile®) and the CLI (Campbell Leadership IndexTM). Recommend a fuel bar with healthy options for all employees, and offer a weekly or monthly fitness class.
Follow the Leader: Media Mogul Gary Vaynerchuk offers a concise explanation of how he prioritized his health and his company followed suit.
STRONG LEADERS ESTABLISH FINANCIAL HEALTH
Studies show that the more financial stress an individual is under, the more likely that their well-being is compromised. Per a recent survey by the American Psychology Association, money and finances have remained the top stressor since 2007. Furthermore, the 2015 survey shows that stress related to financial issues could have a significant impact on Americans’ health and well-being.”
Help leadership boost financial health
Leaders like improving their business without blowing the budget. Encourage them to teach employees monetary stability to increase retention rates and workplace morale while decreasing employee stress. Host financial training workshops or provide a financial coaching & planning platform such as LearnVest.
Follow the Leader: Maverick’s owner and philanthropist Mark Cuban, is an advocate for conservative money practices in order to focus on the opportunities you really want in life.
STRONG LEADERS INVEST IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Do you know the number one reason people leave their jobs? Spoiler: It isn’t money. People most commonly leave due to a lack of career opportunities at their company. As the Society for Human Resource Managementnotes: “People who don’t feel positive about themselves or their lives don’t do extraordinary things. People who feel good about their lives do great things, for themselves and their employers.”
DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Leaders like go-getters. With workplace stress costing an estimated 550 million workdays and $500 billion per year, building individual resilience can have a significant impact on an organization. Keep a library of books on personal development, provide a stress-management option, and create opportunities to assist in employees’ personal and professional goals in their evaluations.
Follow the Leader: ADURO co-founders Dr. Darren White and Dr. Toni Best harvest a strong employee growth culture through coaching, easy-to-access development workshops, and an internal program in which employees build their “Roadmap for Success.”
STRONG LEADERS SEE THE BIG PICTURE
Great companies change the focus away from themselves and ask what can be done to affect the world. In fact, global leader Russel Reynolds Associates states, “The winners of the future will be those companies that are proactively embracing sustainability as a business opportunity instead of seeing it as a matter of compliance or a way to defend themselves against critical stakeholders”
Convince your leadership to broaden their scope
Leaders want to create a legacy. Show them Double the Donations, “Corporate Benefits of CSR”, including improved brand image, media coverage, retention rates and employee engagement. Cultivate a culture of sustainability by donating a dollar amount to organizations for every hour employees volunteer. Did we mention that 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer gift matching programs?
Follow the leader: Hannah Hislop is at the forefront of corporate sustainability committing Unilever to have 100% recyclable plastic by 2025.
