Wellness providers do a wonderful job of championing employee wellbeing by focusing on many foundational elements of mental and physical health. Yet most providers are missing a crucial piece of workplace wellness: they address everything around the workday, but not the workday itself.
When employees feel overwhelmed at work, it’s nearly impossible to meet lifestyle goals. The more stressed we become, the greater number of unhealthy choices we’re likely to make. In addition, as more employees feel overextended by their workload, rates of absenteeism, presenteeism, and burnout increase.
One-and-done training on best practices and productivity concepts doesn’t have a lasting impact for most people. A study of executives reported in the journal Public Personnel Management compared training alone to coaching combined with training. Training alone increased productivity by 22.4%, while training plus coaching increased productivity by 88%.
Personalized coaching, customized for individual workstyles, ensures that employees put the best practices in place that are most likely to make a real difference in their work. As their productivity increases and their stress level decreases, they’re better positioned to work on the lifestyle issues (sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc.) that are foundational to health and wellness.
When people have better days at work, they’re more likely to do things outside of work that improve their health and wellness. They have the energy to live better, eat better, exercise, and spend time with friends and family. At the same time, they become happier and more productive members of the workforce, contributing to the success of their teams and organizations.
Workplace wellness and enhanced productivity become a reality not just by making employees physically and mentally healthier, but also by helping them get more done:
- Sales revenue increases of 30-50%
- Time savings of up to 10+ hours per week
- Dramatic improvements in email response rates and inbox volume
- Higher-level assignments, job promotions, and work recognition
- Have fewer ineffective, unnecessary meetings
It’s about understanding an individual’s specific workstyle and lifestyle. When the barriers to health and productivity are broken down people gain a better understanding of what drives their daily behavior at work and in work. Building on that understanding, they can utilize best practices and processes that make it easier to develop productive habits that maximize their time and efficiency. This in turn allows them to free up time for healthy habits and activities.
When employees are more present, available, and thoughtful in how they approach work, it flows into their home life. Ultimately, people who are productive at work report they are happier and less stressed.
Margo Crawford is a Productivity Coach with Wave Productivity. She works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and business professionals to help them become productive in their workplace. Contact Margo today to discuss how your organization can take part in training and coaching. [email protected]