In today’s workplace, it seems endless hours and constant contact is more the norm that not. To combat the added burden that comes with our advances in technology and constant ability to reach someone, many companies have found ways to put wellness opportunities into their daily workplace. However, research shows nap rooms, yoga classes, fitness facilities, etc. often go underutilized and employee burnout is on the rise.
The sad, but true, reality is the deep-seated belief that more, faster, and bigger is always better. This belief ensures these well-being and relaxation offerings will go under or un-utilized as reported in a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
As a leader, it’s important to find ways to encourage your team to be aware of the risk of burnout and ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to fighting against it. In every industry there are busier times and times of greater stress and turmoil. If you can enact a plan to prevent workplace burnout, those times will feel like a distant memory as your team will be more physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to handle whatever a day might throw at them. To implement a program within your organization there are a few things to consider.
First things first: every winning team needs a cheerleader.
With the statistics on buy-in so dim, it’s important to find a champion in the group. Every team has one even if they are the quiet cheerleader type rather than the outspoken optimist. This person is most likely to help you get better buy-in from other team members and will help usher in the new, positive habits that reduce burnout. This individual will likely see the positive effects of the new way of approaching and managing their workload and be excited to share it with their co-workers.
A good leader cares as much about their team as they do about themselves.
Select a leader for this new initiate who can be both selfless and encouraging. While they are working through the program to better their own burnout fatigue, they should be equally invested in seeing the positive changes in their counterparts. This person should be willing to experiment with new ideas and methodologies, so they can implement changes in a positive and interesting way that disrupts the current work culture and makes room for positive changes.
As Mark Shields is quoted for saying, “There is always strength in numbers. The more individuals or organization that you can rally to your cause, the better.”
For a successful integration of a wellness program, get the whole team on board from the start. The first introductory meeting will set the tone, so ensure your cheerleader and leader are on hand and ready to get people excited. Ensure the focus on mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing are all present and consider investing in a professional organization that does a day 1 kickoff event to get started on the right foot.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.
Repetition can be the beginning of a healthy habit. If for instance, your team suggests doing the most strenuous work for the first 60-90 minutes of the day, it’s important to make sure meetings aren’t scheduled during that time, so it can be something done daily until it becomes a habit. If walking more throughout the day is a goal, schedule shorter meetings as walking meetings and take them outside. Encourage team lunches and time away from desks at regular intervals. These quick mental breaks help keep employees fresh and ready to go.
The team that fights burnout together, ultimately will become more cohesive and successful. Sharing the common goal of being mindful of their, and each other’s, wellbeing will help everyone grow both at work and in their day-to-day lives. Contact us today to help your team work together to fight workplace burnout. A healthy team is a successful team and we create leaders equipped to bring out the best in their team. Become the leader you always wanted to be, contact us to get started.