If You're Not Already Focusing on Employee Well-Being, You Should Be – And Your Bottom Line Will Thank You Your team members are likely already putting in the required effort, but how can you cultivate an environment that also fosters enhanced wellness?
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In today's busy entrepreneurial landscape, working hard is, of course, one of the key ways leaders differentiate themselves. And certainly, diligent effort can be a good thing: Working 12-hour days or seven-day weeks — at least once in a while — might be just the push a business needs, but you can't do it successfully for very long. Knowing when to allow this type of output — and when to stop — is integral to the success of a company and its team members.
Many employers don't feel the need to concern themselves with staff members' mental health, and that's a potentially dark and dangerous path. It's beyond important to identify when team members are sacrificing their well-being for the sake of a project because the reality is that depression and anxiety can have a critical impact on the bottom line.
Finding balance
A fast-paced and high-pressure environment can take a toll — especially with virtual work thrown into the mix. It's easy to spend most of the day in front of a computer, hopping on and off Zoom calls, all to simply keep pushing forward. However, less time spent outdoors and less social interaction can negatively affect both health and happiness.
Instead, finding a balance between hard work and well-being will create a much more positive company environment. This can be hard to achieve, though, and many founders wind up setting lower expectations and more limited goals in the process. That said, creating a successful and healthy work culture is possible.
Related: 8 Ways to Foster an Environment of Employee Wellbeing
Consider these six tips to build one that achieves both:
1. Emphasize honesty
Giving employees unvarnished feedback is essential. You're doing both the business and staff members a disservice if you tell someone they're doing a good job when they're not, or when the results don't add up. It might hurt at the moment, but if you put things in a thoughtful, caring way, you can deliver honest and useful responses that keep people rooted in reality.
Complete transparency when it comes to expectations is the best way to set you and your team up for success. If employees are confident in what their responsibilities are, they are more likely to follow through and communicate when they need help. This type of environment can lower anxiety, give people space to advocate for their needs and maintain a steady sense of what's required.
2. Show appreciation
You can't always see all of the efforts a person puts into their work, so making an ongoing effort of acknowledging it goes a long way. You'd be surprised how much simple recognition can encourage workers and give them a sense of pride. Remind them that all work is valuable and contributes to the success of the broader goal and mission, perhaps by shouting out in an email once a week, or by creating an anonymous compliment box.
Related: 9 Simple Techniques Any Leader Can Use to Show Employees Appreciation
3. Build a culture focused on goals, not effort
Sometimes, no matter how hard a team member works, they don't reach a goal. This is an inevitable part of professional life, and how you manage it greatly impacts work culture.
Prioritizing goals prevents any one person from struggling under the weight of too much failure and blame, and if someone didn't reach theirs, discuss why. Was it unrealistic to begin with? Did the person simply underperform? Do you need a new path?
Also, try breaking down a large project into several small steps. This can help make day-to-day actions clear, and realistic. Team members will stay more positive and motivated if they know where they're headed.
4. Encourage self-care
A healthy work environment is one in which people feel comfortable putting well-being over their job, when appropriate. Too much pressure can push a person past limits, both mentally and physically.
Let your employees know that, although you have high expectations, health is ultimately a top priority. Creating a space where people can ask for extra support and be honest about their limitations is essential to the cohesiveness (and ultimate success) of a team.
5. Draw the line between work and home
If you're hiring determined people, many will be inclined to work until they achieve a goal — even if it means sacrificing their well-being at times. While this level of commitment may be a boost in the short term, it's important to remind employees that such an approach is not sustainable — that there are times when work must take the back seat.
Particularly with remote hours, and the blurring of distinctions between professional and personal lives, it's too easy for people to push themselves too far. Have a conversation with team members about what drawing this line looks like. What are some signs that they need time away, and/or when they need to prioritize work more? Starting this dialogue will be an engine for both employee and team success.
Related: Work-Life Balance Is Simple. To Succeed at Work, Get a Life.
6. Share your own experiences
Many workers will follow your lead, so sharing methods of taking care of yourself will help demonstrate to others how they can, too. This includes staying open and honest about your limitations. Also, share past failures and lessons learned when it comes to your own well-being. How did you learn to put work down? What does relaxing look like for you?
There's no one way of taking care of oneself. It takes time and intention to learn and understand what balance looks like, and it's likely that employees have a lot they can learn from you in this space.
Related: The CEO's Checklist for Keeping Employees Happy and Fulfilled
Finding a dynamic synergy between hard work and health takes time and effort — especially when you're managing others. Ultimately, of course, your responsibility is to make a business as successful as possible, and there's no need to be shy about that fact: You and your staff are there to work, often hard. However, establishing a place for discussion and cultivating a culture of honesty will give people the chance to advocate for themselves. In the last analysis, that'll not only keep them motivated and enthusiastic but will promote a healthier environment.
