Creating a world class wellbeing strategy

Over the course of the year a lot has been said about creating and actioning an effective wellbeing strategy.

Often one of 2 things happens:

1. An organisation tries to do the bare minimum and hopes that's enough.

This is a bit like fueling your car but never service it or change the oil or check your tyre pressure. It'll work.... for a bit.

2. An organisation tries ALL OF THE THINGS, throwing bucket loads of cash and time at it, really trying to create that change but...nada. There's still a closed culture and people just aren't engaging with it.

This is a bit like buying a POS car, installing a top end radio, spoiler, leather seats, fluffy dice and vibrating gear stick . It's still not gonna work because it's fundamentally flawed.

But guess what?

It doesn't have to be like this.

Here are some simple stesp you can take to create a strategy that works.

1. Audit - What's going on right now? How are people feeling? What is preventing them from opening up? Would they tell their manager if they were struggling? If not, why not? Use surveys, informal chats, appraisals and exit interviews.

2. Plan - Based on what you learnt in step 1, what do people feel would help? Is it as simple as having a monthly chat with their line manager about the weather, sport, fluffy puppies or how their kid drew on the cat? Get suggestions, write a list of ideas (from the sublime to the ridiculous) and talk them through with people at all levels. Use a wellbeing committee if you have one. If you haven't, make one!

3. Act - So you understand the problem, you have a plan to fix it. Now do something about it. Don't try to do all of it at once. Stagger it out over time. If you need courses then use recomended providers and someone who is passionate (not just in it for the money - those guys are dicks). A good wellbeing strategy for an organisation of 500+ might take 6-12 months to fully roll out.

But here's the BIG secret, what's really gonna make the difference. Are you ready? Come closer....

TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHY!

If they don't know what's happening then why would they care or engage?

"We are going to train up an additional 15 mental health first aiders and put our exisiting ones on a refresher course because we genuinly care for you guys and want to be in the best place to support you!"

"We've now got 35 trained and qualified mental health first aiders so you will always have someone there if you're struggling. Next we want our execs to really understand mental health and understand what you guys face so they're all going on an awareness workshop"

Use news letters, emails, posters, leaflets, team meetings etc etc etc. Get your marketing team or a copy writer to write it so the message hits home.

The more open the leadership are about mental health the more open everyone else will be.

Oh and one more thing.

4. Review - Once you've rolled out your strategy don't stop there. Keep up the conversation, and adapt your strategy as the world and the organisation changes. without this the whole thing feels like a flash in the pan. Continue news letters, emails, meetings that discuss wellbeing, committee meetings and training refreshers.

This is where most people fall down - not communicating what and why they're doing it all and not keeping it up.

Want to learn more about creating a solid wellbeing strategy? Get in touch with me at [email protected].