Wellbeing @ Work through Inclusion & Psychological Safety
Are you Thriving as you navigate the post Covid Era?
In the last 3 years, psychological wellbeing has been stretched beyond the limits and coping capacity of many, creating conditions ripe for burnout.
What offers the most protection?
- Workplace Tools & Policies or Leadership & Team Dynamics?
Some companies in the Tech Sector, have offered 5 days of paid leave, to take as and when team members feel they need to recharge.
I know from my time in tech, these same organisations already had a sound range of wellbeing ‘supports and tools’, which like many organisations, they expanded during covid.
Whilst I applaud the intention of offering additional leave to recharge, it’s important it doesn’t transfer the focus away from the root causes of burnout @ work, and dilute the vital role of leaders, in creating environments which prioritise optimal performance pressure.
The culture organisations create has a significant impact on personal health & wellbeing and impacts professional performance & productivity.
Who holds the greatest responsibility for Creating Wellbeing @ Work?
Organisations? Leaders? Teams? Individuals?
Health and Wellbeing is the outcome of each of the above elements, harmoniously supporting one another.
If one is operating at a lower level, it will impact all.
Whilst many organisations have positively responded to the Covid crisis by providing permission to manage Wellbeing and additional tools to do so, the Wellbeing Lab has confirmed Psychological Safety is a further important factor in enabling individuals to thrive, rather than struggle @ Work.
How does Psychological Safety Impact Wellbeing & Belonging @ Work?
Psychological Safety has experienced an explosion of interest in recent times. The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety (Clark) provides a map for building ‘high order’ Psychological Safety - which is actually a roadmap of ‘how to do’ inclusion - and unlocks the formula for cumulatively enhancing Wellbeing (and Belonging) in the following ways:
Stage 1: Inclusion Safety creates Connection between leaders and teams, moving individuals from Exclusion into the Inclusion zone.
It’s the zone where people feel comfortable with each other and accept everyone equally for who they ‘you-niquely’ are.
Stage 2: Learner Safety creates Competence and confidence in your ability to perform your role, which contribute significantly to Wellbeing @ Work (and in life).
When it’s safe for people to ask questions, learn and make mistakes, they thrive in the Learner zone.
Stage 3: Contributor Safety enables autonomy and maximum Contribution at both the individual and team level, which has been proven to significantly impact organisation and individual performance.
This zone offers the ability to Make a Difference, which increases ‘self determination’ a proven enabler of Wellbeing and Belonging @ Work. (McQuaid; NLI; Deloitte)
Stage 4: Challenger Safety is where individuals and teams have their greatest impact, through challenging and questioning the status quo.
‘This zone offers the highest degree of Wellbeing (and Belonging) @ Work.
Each of the 4 stages create the foundations for the next, building higher order levels of Wellbeing (and team performance) aka ‘Thrive Factor’.
On Balance, what has greater Impact on Wellbeing @ Work?
Permission and tools or team culture and dynamics?
When Simon Sinek was asked a similar question, his response was:
If you go to the gym for 9hrs, will you be fit?
· No – you won’t
If you go to the gym for 20 minutes each day – will you get fit?
· Yes – you will, I just don’t know when.
Sinek says organisations favour “intensity” type activities that are easy to measure – but aren’t as effective as consistency. Whilst they inoculate individuals from burnout created by their environments, authentically thriving cultures require consistent focus and leadership.
The daily actions of leaders and team members are vital to creating an environment where everyone equally can thrive.
If you want to become a Human Leader with Heart, leading a Thriving Team, we can offer you the step by step guide, to unlocking Organisation and Human performance, founded on Psychological Safety, Wellbeing and Belonging.
