Remember the story of the 3 little pigs? In the story, a trio of pigs decide to build houses to escape their nemesis, The Big Bad Wolf. The first pig builds his house out of straw, the second out of sticks – the third pig, whom the other two ridicule for taking so long to build his house while they are out playing, constructs a home out of bricks. The wolf can’t blow it down, and the pig is safe. The moral of the story: shortcuts waste more time than doing things right.
The ROI and VOI of your wellbeing program are built on durability. Creating a wellbeing culture brick by brick creates the foundation of your program to stand the test of time. It’s about building with intentional, sustainable materials which allow your organization and the people who work there to live happily ever after.
What is culture and why does it matter?
Culture is reflected in everything a company does. It is the heart and soul of an organization. It includes values, beliefs, roles, communication, attitudes, and traditions. When people are highly engaged with the company they work for, they are happier, more productive, loyal and enthusiastic about their work. This has a direct spin-off on the quality of their work, and if they are customer-facing, their interactions with your customers.
Just like in any other personal relationship in our lives, if we don’t feel seen, heard and valued at work – we disengage. We don’t trust the message, we don’t feel supported in our mission and we can’t understand the purpose. This is human nature. Through a deliberate investment in creating a wellbeing culture, your employees will develop a sense of belonging and purpose.
The tricky part is while it’s clear that culture is important; culture itself and how to change it can feel like the big bad wolf. It can often feel like something separate from day to day operations. However, if we view wellbeing culture as part of the foundational bricks to build the house, it can feel less elusive. Your organization and its culture are interdependent. Each little change in culture impacts the whole house.
