Corporate Programs
Many of us put our own wellbeing low on our priority list. We put our personal and professional obligations ahead of our own mental and physical health. What if, in all our attempts to deliver value at work, we are actually sub-optimising our own performance? Learning and practicing resilience and wellbeing increases our effectiveness and overall health. Investing in all members of the team is essential if you truly want to shape positive climate and culture at work.
Are you all about the evidence?
Research shows that employees who participate in wellbeing programs have:
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reduced levels of stress and burn out
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increased job satisfaction
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improved productivity
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less staff absenteeism and turn over
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better focus and communication
(Slutsky et al, 2019; Alkema et al, 2008; Charoensukmongkol, 2013; Das, 2008, Hassed 2020, Gebhardt & Crump, 1990)
This research was conducted in the pre-COVID environment, so overlay this additional stress and burden (on an already pressure-filled environment) and the need for wellbeing rises significantly. Add in change within the workplace and fear of the unknown, and you’ve got another strain on employees. Businesses are encouraged more than ever to treat wellbeing as a tangible skill (much like all the technical skills we teach) critical for business output and culture.
THE PROGRAMS
I have two programs addressing the work we need to do as individuals first and then expanding this to growing the reach within the work environment.
What is mental health and wellbeing?
Mental health is a continuum and we all on the mental health spectrum. Where one end of the spectrum is feeling good and functioning well, to mental health illness on the other end. Acknowledging that we ALL slide up and down this spectrum I wanted to implement a proactive approach to mental wellbeing rather than being reactive. Implementing these strategies early instead of waiting until we are “in crisis or struggling” to take action. Mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” (World Health Organisation). So, rather than it being an “illness” let us reframe this to a state of well-being!
https://delphis.org.uk/mental-health/continuum-mental-health
Why be proactive?
At some point in time “crisis” may have been present for yourself or someone you love. I am there with you and have not been left untouched. Seeing the impact of mental illness on a parent, I have seen the changes this has taken over the years from when I was a child to now an adult. I am happy to say we now talk about it as a family but how it plays out changes every day. Mental health is an everyday practice for EVERYONE. That is, having a daily practice, much like brushing your teeth! We don’t think twice about maintaining our dental health so why think twice about implementing daily actions and behaviours to maintain our mental and emotional health? Act in the green and yellow zones instead of waiting for the orange and red zone to turn it around!
My experience and background
I have been involved in education, training and leadership coaching within the health and university environments. Over the last few years, I have come to see so much focus and efforts on increasing the technical skills of staff and learners, however the non-technical skills are the ones that create our daily interactions and experiences. Addressing mental and physical wellbeing is part of this, and I’m eager to bring all the skills, knowledge and experiences I have as a physiotherapist and coach together to address BOTH of these aspects.
Lauren has presented and partnered with many industry leaders including:
Be proactive! Don't
wait for a crisis to act!
