It’s a huge and broad topic but one we don’t believe people are fully understanding of … yet. There are now many books about longevity and living well through that longevity. We have medical doctors and scientists providing their deeply researched views of how to truly maximise this body and this mind we reside in. Of course, you can also find plenty of spiritual approaches to a life well lived, preserving the mind, spirit and body in alternative ways.
However, we are finding that we are still lacking in ways to incorporate this support and this concept into businesses.
We want people in our businesses who can really be their best, but do so in a way that means they won’t hit walls along the way that require long periods of time where they are either ineffective (presenteeism) or absent while they recover. Wellness has become a topic that we see a lot of in companies, largely thanks to a global pandemic, and while this is a great step forward, it is also only one element of a truly sustainable approach to work.
Companies and their leaders still lack the understanding of what is required to be able to work in a way that manages our cognitive and physical energy. In many cases, they are simply fearful of what this may require of them. This fear usually arises because to be truly effective and sustainable we have to ensure we have to know more about the people who work for us than just who they are at work. This is a scary prospect.
There are so many elements that make up our ability to be high performing in a sustainable way. If we limit ourselves to supporting people with just the work-elements, we are missing a huge piece of the puzzle.
As leaders, knowing your team beyond their professional personas allows you to tap into their full potential. Take the advice of a top performing English football coach who emphasised, “If you don’t know your players off the field, you’ll never get the most out of them on the field”.
Here’s how you can elicit the best out of your people:
- Encourage Real Conversations
Foster open dialogue to understand what your team members are going through personally. This will enable you to tailor support more effectively. This is essential in a hybrid or remote work environment where casual conversations are harder to come by – make the time to make these happen. - Create a Psychologically Safe Culture
We go on about this one a lot but that’s because it’s essential to drawing out the very best in people. It allows them to bring their most creative selves to the table. Build an environment that encourages self-responsibility and ensures an openness in approach. When employees feel safe to share, they are more likely to be proactive in all areas. - Provide Tools for Sustainable Energy Management
Equip your team with training, workshops and tools that focus on mindset, body, breath, planning, and structure. Then, make sure you implement the approach into the organisation fully. Sustainable energy is the goal and the only way to do it is to really equip your team to approach this for themselves, in an environment that supports their self-responsibility. - Integrate Recovery Practices
Real recovery is fundamental to energy and to allowing people to be their most productive selves. Each individual will need this differently so encourage them to find ways to disconnect regularly and put energy credits back in their tanks.
Don’t forget about the latest in technology to support you to do these things well. You can get to know your team and help them to know themselves – often the key to unlocking their own self-responsible behaviour. The rise of AI in the coaching world provides leaders with unprecedented opportunities to offer tailored support. AI tools can analyse data to craft personalised strategies and identify patterns that may otherwise be overlooked. By integrating these insights into team management, leaders can proactively address challenges and optimise team performance.
Knowing your team well enough to support their individual abilities to be as high performing as possible and ensure sustainability isn’t always easy. If it was, all businesses would be flying!
However, if we can embrace a more holistic approach, that integrates cognitive energy management, psychological safety, and personalised strategies, you can create an environment where employees thrive, both professionally and personally.
Join us on this journey and explore our workshops designed to help you support your team to be at their best, always. Visit Next Evolution Performance Events to learn more.