Connecting The Dots Between Leadership And Wellbeing
A leader is as good as a team that he leads, they say. It is the prerogative of a leader to ensure that his subordinates are perceived with a more humane perspective.
The inculcation of a more compassionate approach to leadership is called for by the fact that workplaces have, of late, revealed extremely high levels of stress.This is understandable given the tight deadlines, break neck speed of work and constantly demanding work pressures. The way out is a more holistic approach towards stress management and resilience. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce after all.
Also, let us consider the implications of ignoring workforce engagement and enthusiasm levels because of poor wellbeing. Lack of employee morale, wellbeing and productivity loss due to the above factors ultimately percolates as financial losses to the company, even if indirectly so.
And it is so obvious that those who work day in and day out are sufficiently motivated through various initiatives and programmes. A happy individual is more likely to be more creative, more productive and more efficient.
In fact a majority of contemporary employees expect their bosses to support them balance their personal life with the work commitments. And it isn't as though employers are not in tune with this. Many employers have been allowing perks such as flexible work timings, extended vacations, work from anywhere among other motivational moves.
Wellbeing enhancement measures have also led existing workforce to rate and recommend their offices as good places to work.
Also, wellbeing incorporates factors other than physical fitness and relief. Employers have been organizing mental health and wellness workshops for the entire length and breadth of their manpower. The rise of employee wellness programs has driven healthier lifestyle choices as is evident from the changed relationship with work. Moves such as reducing work hours from 32 to 40 hours have become a prevailing trend. The promotion of healthy trend has also meant a mean reduction in 4kg of weight in such firms.
This has also boosted job performance and job satisfaction. The effect has been so prominent that a robust corporate wellness program has become a deciding factor governing employer choices for new entrants.
On their part, employers have consciously started endeavoring to improve their physical spaces and office environments to boost productivity and keep mental clutter at bay. From bright colours to funny quotes, from sticky notes to lunching together, initiatives towards well being abound.
Globally, 70% of employers have undertaken measures to give a fillip to healthy behaviours. It is slowly being understood that wellness has to permeate every aspect of offices. Thus the manifest change in office restaurant menus, stocking of healthy snacks, ergonomic workstations and enhanced lighting.
The acceptance of extended care for employee wellness and engagement as corporate responsibility marks a seismic shift in the professional space. The trend is expected to grow in the wake of the pandemic where the value of human life has come to be understood better.
Good leaders will be expected to usher in innovation in their working troops by energizing them through incentives and morale boosting measures. A more family like environment and care will become the mainstay, keeping professional ethics and boundaries intact.
In the post pandemic era, besides investment in various domains, companies and leaders would also infuse their wealth into protecting human capital, the core asset, the spine of organizations. Firms ensuring a great deal of emphasis on employee well being will stand out in the corporate world. The new found thrust on human resource development will be new USP allowing companies to stay ahead of the curve.
