Workplace Wellness: Look Within and Around You
Wellness in the workplace starts at the top… and the bottom. Management and others in positions of power and influence can leverage their ability to promote an employer culture that encourages authentic, individual wellness. Meanwhile, employees can expect (or demand) employers to set healthy boundaries to maintain their holistic health and energy.
The stress of the pandemic and the demands of the changing world have reignited and amplified conversations about mental and physical health in the workplace. A virtual panel of alumni from Northwestern University’s Master’s of Learning and Organization Change (MSLOC) program shared their thoughts on these topics as part of the continued celebration of MSLOC’s 20th anniversary. The panel, held in December of 2021, was moderated by Diane Knoepke (MS16), director of program engagement and outreach and an instructor for MSLOC.
The panelists discussed how those with authority and influence in their organizations can begin by reflecting on how well they demonstrate and encourage a commitment to self-compassion. “Starting with you is the most important thing,” said Carrie Lydon (MS16), director of student wellness at University of Chicago Booth School of Business. “Think about your own wellbeing and how you’re modeling that. Think about how you’re able to show up for your team and lead them, as well.” The conversation drew on the analogy of an airplane oxygen mask, reminding participants that we have to focus on helping ourselves before we can help others.
As wellness means different things to different people, a sense of humility serves leaders in understanding their colleagues. Mike Bagdade (MS12), a talent leader at Deloitte, challenged participants to “take it upon yourself to reach out to your peers, your coworkers, to others in your classes… check in on them and see how they’re doing, let them know that you’re listening and that you care and that their voice has a spot if they want to talk to you.” Leaders need to know when to ask questions and actively listen so they can act as a coach rather than a fixer or problem solver.
Contrast these coaching behaviors with examples where leaders took on extra work or created a false sense of urgency, causing a trickle-down effect of anxiety or overwork. Alexa Hassaram (MS17), encourages individuals to find their own rhythms as an employee. “How do we build natural pause points?” asks Hassaram, senior program manager of employee experience for New Relic, Inc. Self-regulation is a required competency in today’s worker. Whether this means removing work email from your phone (as Alexa herself did) or recreating your “commute” to remote work, active self-regulation is key to finding and maintaining a balance that is right for you.
The panelists and participants reflected on how the past few years have disrupted status quos in organizations and individuals alike. This disruption has revealed more of our humanity and challenged us to communicate and take action on our wellness needs and the needs of our colleagues and collaborators.
Employers and employees must navigate the wellness journey hand-in-hand and focus on shifting the culture of fighting stress to one of prioritizing health and wellness.
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Throughout 2021-2022, MSLOC is celebrating 20 years of disrupting the status quo. MSLOC offers an alternative to MBA programs and master's programs in organizational development, organizational behavior, industrial/organizational psychology, human resource development or similar graduate programs. The center of MSLOC’s attention is not the business or enterprise but the people within the enterprise.