With the majority of people getting back into work this week, now’s the time to consider your business’ wellbeing strategy for the year.
With three out of five employees experiencing mental health issues because of work, and 10% of entrepreneurs experiencing burnout, now’s the time to address these issues before work properly kicks in.
At Calmer, we believe a happy mind makes for a happy business. This is especially true of start-ups and SMEs, who rely on a small yet effective set of people to keep the business functioning.
The benefits of a mental health & wellbeing strategy
Many businesses are beginning to recognise the importance of good mental health within their workforce, and how it has a positive effect on their productivity overall. By creating and executing a business wellbeing strategy, you can benefit from:
Improved team morale
Higher levels of motivation
Reduced levels of stress and burnout
Reduced absenteeism
Reduced staff turnover
…These are just the start! By working in ways that fit your staff, you’ll find they are more loyal, more creative, and more appreciative of their position in your business.
And if you’re the only member of your business - well, then it’s absolutely important for you to find ways to look after your mental health and wellbeing!
How to create a business wellbeing strategy
A good business wellbeing strategy is made up of three vital parts, akin to Calmer’s values:
Education - Nurturing mindset and wellbeing
Connection - Connecting internally and with others
Community - Building a support system and tribe
The first step in your business wellbeing strategy involves educating yourself and your team. Make time to talk about mental health regularly - that could be through a daily check-in, or a deeper practice through a team workshop, or rolling out digital wellbeing training.
Secondly, connect to yourself and to others. Introspection will enable you to address any stressors in your life, and how you can navigate these. It’s why it made our list of top 10 traits all entrepreneurs need.
And that connection to others leads into community. This is especially important if you’re a solo worker, as it can be easy to become isolated without a traditional workplace team or pastoral support. Take steps to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and socialise with people outside of work. You could get started now by joining our Facebook Group, or come along to one of our events!
Examples of successful wellbeing strategies
So, which businesses and entrepreneurs do wellbeing well?
In his TED Talk, Ricardo Semler explains how he gave his workforce the opportunity to choose when they work, and pursue self-development and leisure activities once a week. His strategy enabled staff to take off every Wednesday, in return for 10% of their salary. Not only did this create a higher level of motivation within his employees, it also provided them with useful transferable skills, and a way of valuing their time in the same way as their salary.
In a more general sense, PR agency Forster have developed their own wellbeing strategy which focuses on growing a culture in which good mental health can thrive. By laying the foundation of an open and inclusive workplace, they aim to attract and keep great people.
And when it comes to entrepreneurs, Calmer’s Founder Tania Diggory makes a great case study, as per her feature in the Guardian. Tania was originally the founder of an events business which quickly grew into an international enterprise. Externally, it had all the marks of success, but as Tania testifies, her mental health was not a priority. Her anxiety attacks incapacitated her business, and led her to prioritising mental health herself and others in her position.
So, are you ready to create your wellbeing strategy?
We hope this guide has given you a good foundation for creating your own wellbeing strategy. If you’d like further guidance, we recommend following our digital wellbeing course, or contact us to organise a meeting or call to discuss your mental health and wellbeing strategies.
The Calmer Team