Work is a vital part of life, shaping our sense of purpose and well-being. More than 160 million people are part of the U.S. workforce, spending one-third, if not more, of their day working as knowledge employees. The pressures of hustle culture, where busyness is a source of pride, trap many in the delusion of relentless productivity. However, we are seeing, the impact of toxic productivity on overall well-being.
Workload pressures, the economic climate, and the challenges [aftermath] of the pandemic, employees [individuals] are emotionally stretched. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 3 in 5 employees reported negative impacts of work-related stress in the wake of the pandemic. With the burnout crisis experienced by employees, organizations will benefit from holistic well-being strategies supporting their workforce while curating an inclusive culture where people feel they belong.
Shaping the work culture
Leaders who visibly commit to the well-being, and who can have quality conversations with their workforce to address the factors contributing to this crisis will ensure engagement.
According to the U. S. Surgeon Report, “regardless of their position, when employees feel appreciated, recognized, and engaged, their sense of value and meaning increases, as well as their capacity to manage stress.” Building good relationships and strong organizations requires listening, deeply listening with empathy. Understanding work from the perspective of the people doing the work can reveal what is broken and how it impacts them.
Managers hold a powerful role in shaping the work culture and employees’ well-being. Listening to their direct report to recognize the ways they engage with their work, the constraints faced, and factors that effects how the work is completed will allow the manager and the employee to co-create signposts for success. This collaborative approach empowers inclusive teams’ participation to build and determine how work is accomplished, fostering connections and moderating feelings of being overwhelmed.
When employees feel supported
Effective support starts when there is an understanding of what is needed across the enterprise, cultivating a purpose-driven workplace. Employee feedback can provide important insights and context, deepening the C-suite’s understanding and aligning the enterprise’s purpose with colleagues. Connecting the company’s purpose to environmental, social, and the goals of the enterprise can be a valuable way to support the organization’s talent.
Taking a human-centric approach invites leaders to fully evaluate this complexity of knowledge work. Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, encourages organizations to examine workload and adequacy of resources to meet those demands (such as staffing, and coverage), reduce long working hours, and eliminate policies and productivity metrics that cause harm (such as limiting employee breaks).
Time for creativity
A key to creativity is “the ha-ha stage”, which is only possible when there is an incubation phase that enriches the process. In the Harvard Business Review IdeaCast Podcast: Breaking Free of the Cult of Productivity, Madeleine Dore noted that for knowledge employees there needs to be time to slow down. Rest is not a reward. To show up powerful again the next day, our brain needs to recharge to retain more information.
Intentionally looking out for biases that promote organizational design, work arrangements, and technologies where employees are constantly on further support time for renewal. Leaders are encouraged to job craft, where employees proactively shape the ways in which they contribute to the organization in a meaningful, rewarding, and consistent way that utilizes their strengths.
Purpose and belonging
When well-being policies and ways of working support all employees, it is a winning proposition. Listening and investing in employees, shows it’s okay for them to look after their well-being, whether it means being off-line during personal and family time or collaborating with leadership on how work will be executed. Simon Blake advised that companies “adopt a comprehensive, whole organization approach which recognizes that well-being and performance fuel one another.” An organization’s productivity and the meaning employees derive from their work do not need to conflict with each other.
When humans are centered at work, caring community of purpose and belonging is promoted. “The most important asset in any organization is its people. By choosing to center their voices, we can ensure everyone has a platform to thrive.” – Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General. Does this mean that thriving might be an element of striving?
Book A Discovery Session
A discovery session is largely influenced by a kaizen process, which is a philosophy based on the concept to change for the better through small modifications creating improvements. The session is centered on learning about one another including values, goals, and processes.
The discussion will help determine our chemistry match and how collaborating will add value for you. There will be an opportunity to understand your needs and what is top of mind for you, especially what is it that you wish to improve upon. This is an opportunity for us to co-create a win-win partnership.
Some discovery session questions are:
- What is your biggest challenge as it relates to ______?
- How are you feeling about this challenge?
- What about solving the challenge is most important to you?
- How will you benefit from finding a solution to this challenge?
To schedule your no obligation appointment, email novelette@betacoachingconsulting.com or visit our calendar to book an available time.
“Dread Poetry & Freedom Linton Kwesi Johnson & The Unfinished Revolution” offers an expansive exploration of Jamaican poets grappling with the legacy of slavery and colonialism in the post-independence period. It also probes the influence of the “cast of outcasts” on creative expression.
Austin writes, “Johnson’s poetry has served to expose the mask that shields society’s inequalities while emphasizing black and working-class self-activity in the struggle for social change.” Johnson’s poetry draws on his heritage, written in the Jamaican vernacular accompanied by dub (reggae) music.
A comprehensive review of the influences that shaped Johnson’s poetry, a blend of storytelling, history, and the political climate post-independence. This is a rich account of the intellectuals, politicians and poets who influenced the Dread Poetry movement centering Johnson’s contributions to the movement. Johnson is only the second living poet to have been published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. I am looking forward to diving into that book next in the next couple of months.
