Health is the hottest commodity on the market. With the knowledge that health goes beyond an apple a day and a check-up each year, more attention than ever is being directed toward holistic approaches to health. Scientists and sociologists alike are identifying the link between the physical, mental, financial, and social, emphasizing the extent to which each area mutually reinforces the others.
What does this mean for the modern worker? Well, in the past, workplace health initiatives might look like more fruit in the breakroom, in this present time of sanitizer shortages and makeshift home offices, employers should take a closer look at the undersung hero of professional health: positive workplace culture. Here are a few principles to keep in mind in order to promote this:
People Love Compliments
In 2015, Harvard University completed a study that found when people were regaled with evidence of their best work, it made them able to perform cognitively better as well. Contrary to the tough love narrative of burly, Disney dads, it turns out that praise actually improves one’s output, instead of discouraging it. This information is useful in building a flourishing workplace because it encourages you to compliment your workers with abandon. If you have something positive to say about a task, big or small, say it with the same gusto you might criticize it.
Put the Person Before the Position
Certified Executive Coach and Consultant, Sinive Seely put it best when she said: “When you put your people first, they are empowered to show up as their best selves and are supported to maximize their potential and excel in their roles. You as a leader will become more effective by understanding who your people are, what they need, and what support they require from you. The organization benefits by having engaged employees who want to show up to work and do their best each and every day.”
Diversity and Inclusion
The phrase that has been on the tips of everyone’s tongues, including ours, still warrants more discussion. In order to be a true leader in your field, you should give serious consideration to the conversations that are being held around opportunity and acceptance. How can you play your part in creating a future you’re proud of?
Although the strategies above can seem large and daunting, perhaps in opposition to everything that you’ve ever known about being a leader, there’s no reason to fear them. The evidence for their effectiveness is found in studies and stories, history, and contemporaneous accounts. If health is the hottest commodity on the market, then the company that invests the most in it is on track to become the most successful.