Does Your Organization Need a Chief Wellbeing Officer?
A weekly roundup of the latest future of work and conscious leadership news and insights
Forbes recently featured an article about the rise of the Chief Wellbeing Officer. Author Colleen Reilly makes a compelling case for why all organizations should create a C-suite level position dedicated solely to the overall health and wellbeing of employees.
One thing has become clear during this pandemic: it’s time for change, especially in the workplace. In the future of work, we’re going to see many companies creating positions like a Chief Wellness Officer because of the growing demand for holistically serving employees.
Reilly describes the science behind not just tending to the physical health of your team, but their emotional health as well. Studies show having a sense of purpose and tying it into the organization’s larger purpose can help with burnout and motivation issues.
I believe the Chief Wellbeing Officer’s core responsibility must be focused on creating cultural transformation that results in more coach-centric leadership. It’s important to provide benefits such as mental healthcare, memberships to exercise programs, and generous PTO. But what about the day-to-day culture of the organization? Building a conscious company means building a culture where every day people feel supported and know they are constantly growing and learning.
It’s exciting to see this shift in how we view work and how it relates to all the other areas of life. We can build organizations where team members thrive. Beyond tending to their physical needs of a paycheck and health insurance, we can provide resources for holistic growth. And we can make them part of the very culture of the organization, not just a once-a-year retreat (but retreats are still important!).
If you’re ready to boldly step into the future of work, let’s connect. You can build the type of company that’s a center for human flourishing while offering outstanding products and services. And 2020 is the year to make it happen.
Here is some of the future of work and conscious leadership content I found interesting this week:
Forbes also featured an article this week about how Millennials want a healthy work-life balance. As the author observes, “Millennials seek flexibility in their roles that allows them to thrive outside of work.” Companies should also focus on creating a sense of achievement and enjoyment. The article challenges old norms about how we think about work-life balance and what it could look like moving forward. It’s an excellent article to help guide your thinking as you build the future of work and remote team.
Harvard Business Review published a paper this week asking whether companies have long-term plans for remote work. The authors note that remote work itself isn’t a goal, it’s a system or structure that can be leveraged for larger company goals. They describe how leaders need to use “Future-Back Thinking and Planning” to determine where they want to go, “unencumbered by how things work today or how they worked in the past.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that interns are finding ways to adjust to remote internships. Internships are an important part of starting a career and learning about an industry or company. But many interns feel like they’re missing out by being socially removed from an office. The article outlines several ways companies can decrease this sense of isolation, and prevent burnout.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
Meredith’s coaching helps conscious leaders step courageously into the future of work. Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
And if you haven’t already, please sign up for this newsletter so you’ll receive the latest insights on conscious leadership, remote work success, remote team building, and the future of work.
Connect with Meredith on Instagram, Facebook,YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn for video content related to these topics.
Love this! Does your organization need a CWO? The correct answer is yes! (I tweeted and posted this article on Instagram and Facebook too).