EMPOWERING WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE: 5 WAYS TO CREATE A MORE POSITIVE WORKPLACE CULTURE

In today’s business world, leaders can’t afford to underestimate the importance of empowering women at work. From driving innovation to boosting a corporation’s profits, the value of having strong women in the workplace is undeniable. That’s why, this women’s month, we discuss the five most important tools to help organisations everywhere strengthen their female leadership and direct the conversation towards creating a more positive workplace culture.

What is “workplace culture”?

Workplace culture is a product of individual factors that come together to create the every-day environment in an organisation. Think of it as the character or personality of your organization.

Essentially, the space in which we work is shaped by a collection of the values, attitudes, priorities, workplace practices and the type of leadership in the organisation.

Creating a positive workplace culture

The biggest mistake most organizations make is that they let their workplace culture form organically without first defining a specific culture or environment that they hope to create.

However, no matter how big or small the organisation, every business can take gradual steps to start making their workplace a space that encourages and empowers women, and one that is mindful of creating new practices that support female career advancement.

1. Amplify the female voice

In an interview with BBC News, Facebook’s VP, Nicola Mendelsohn, noted that women’s voices are often overlooked in the workplace, saying that “Women get interrupted a lot, or people talk over them. I think there is an element that happens in the workplace where we actually condition women not to speak.”

That’s why it’s essential that organisations encourage open dialogue in the workplace. By providing opportunities for women to have their voices heard, your organisation can help women to educate the rest of the office and allow them to begin to form the type of workplace culture that they’d like to see themselves.

In practice, your organisation can offer workplace training on topics such as implicit bias, inclusion and diversity. Some employees may have never heard of these topics before, let alone critically analyzed them in the workplace. This is a great way to continue to bring the experience of women in the workplace to the forefront of the conversation.

2. Listen and learn

Creating a positive workplace culture is about allowing women to express themselves openly, without fear of judgement. One of the main ways workplace environments can be damaging to female employees is when men in leadership positions try to discredit female voices using tactics such as “tone policing” or by “derailing” the conversation.

This is basically when men try to take focus away from real issues female face in the workplace and put it on the way they choose to express this issue and the tone of voice they use. At its core, this suggests that women have to distance themselves from their emotions in order to be heard, and it allows men to define the terms of the conversation.

That’s why it’s absolutely essential that leaders openly acknowledge their female employees’ experiences in the current workplace culture rather than dismissing the conversation out of fear of criticism.

3. Encourage female leadership

Promoting strong, deserving women to prominent management roles is a great way to create a more positive workplace culture. It also sets a valuable precedent that says, “Yes! Women can hold leadership positions in our organization.”

Gender diversity in the workplace is an essential factor in creating positive results such as bringing in new perspectives, making firms more productive and widening the talent pool. It also tends to signal a more attractive work environment and a positive workplace culture to other potential female employees.

Diversifying management and ensuring female representation also gives women the ability to provide valuable input when it comes to important decisions about the organisation’s policies and practices that will affect the day-to-day lives of every female at work.

4. Equal wages for equal work and experience

It’s only natural; we all love to be rewarded and recognized for good work. In fact, one of the leading factors encouraging motivation in the workplace is something called the Incentive Theory of Motivation.

According to leading psychologists, most people work harder and stay at higher levels of motivation when they are inspired by external reinforcements such as the possibility of promotion, higher wages and an opportunity for growth.

Equal pay is one of the most important parts of creating a space where employees feel valued. Women can’t thrive in the workplace or reach their full potential if they feel that the strengths they bring to the workplace are not recognized and that they are not equally rewarded for their contribution to the team.

5. Support professional development

Creating a safe and open relationship with female employees in the workplace is a real sign of progress, but it’s also important to go a step further and actively provide opportunities for women to grow their skills and enhance their professional development in the workplace.

For example, by creating a mentorship programme for women in the organisation, female employees can shadow other women in leadership roles and build relationships with strong female examples. For most women, seeing another woman in a position of authority is empowering and encouraging, and it is also crucial for better career advancement and professional development within the company.

Your organisation could also consider offering female employees the chance to attend conferences or workshops relevant to the leading practices in your industry. It’s a great way to help them gain some practical experience while developing the skills needed to move up in the organisation. This could be anything from funding external skills development courses to offering leadership training programs which will equip them with the tools to jump-start their career.

Women at WellBe

WellBe&Co strives to empower women by helping ladies everywhere to become their happiest, healthiest selves. WellBe is a corporate wellness company that specializes in easy-to-implement, lifestyle-focused nutrition, training and health solutions.

We know that no two women are alike. That’s why we provide nutrition advice, training programs and supplement advice tailored to your individual needs, goals and personal preferences.

Our WellBe family believes that women who support other women should be every organisation’s ultimate goal. So, if you’re feeling a little unmotivated, simply join our WellBe Instagram community made up of prominent women in the fitness industry where we share daily tips, tricks and motivational messages so that we can all improve and grow together.

Follow our regularly-updated, informative blog posts for guidance on topics that deal with everything from workplace productivity to the art of living a more mindful life. And, while you’re at it, why not take a look at our simple set of recipes that will have you eating clean in no time?

Start the learning journey today and you’ll be your healthiest self both at home and in the workplace in no time.

August 5, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Eat Well Comments Off

REAL TALK: HOW TO HANDLE UNEMPLOYMENT ANXIETY AND MASTER HEALTHY COPING HABITS

It seems that almost every week there’s a new wave of complications to manage in the wake of the coronavirus disruption. We’ve all been put to the test and felt the impact of this change in different ways. For a lot of people, it’s required the ability to face challenges that they never could have imagined just a few short weeks ago. Perhaps one of the worst knock-on effects of this disease is the effect it has had on unemployment and what it’s done to our livelihood.

With the growing unemployment rate, a lot of people have started to feel helpless and hopeless. At WellBe we want to let you know that everything is going to be okay. In the midst of these ongoing anxieties, we’ll give you the tools to help you to maintain a strong mindset and focus on your health. Using this coping guide, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to come to terms with job loss and figure out your next best move.

6 ways to deal with unemployment

First, keep in mind that this is a chance for you to adapt and overcome this adversity rather simply choosing to throw in the towel. Below we’ll give you the best advice for how to deal with the disappointment of job loss, as well as some handy techniques for maintaining your inner peace and keeping your mental energy strong during this more-than-difficult time.

1. Be mindful and manage your anxiety

Loaded words like “pandemic”, “lockdown”, “unemployment” and “crisis” are a new constant in our everyday lives. These topics are discussed on the news, on the radio, and seem to be the overhanging topic of conversation in most of our daily interactions. As these negative connotations increasingly become a constant presence in our environment, there is much more room for negativity, hopelessness and anxiety to sink in. Especially now, with the added pressure of losing what once seemed like a totally secure job, this type of constant negativity could really hamper your mental health.

Of course, you’re allowed to feel apprehension and greater amounts of stress (that’s only expected), but it’s important not to allow feelings of negativity to become the new norm. Intentionally making the effort to create a healthy, stress-free space and manage your internal anxieties every day is vital. This will also help you achieve a better headspace to make the important decisions about your future and asses the next steps you need to take.

Making a conscious effort to find the good in everyday’s is also an important habit to form. We know that it’s not easy but that’s why we give you access to our helpful, regularly-updated blog. Be sure to check out this handy blog about finding positivity during a pandemic. Soon you’ll be able to look towards the future with a sense of possibility and new opportunity instead of apprehension.

2. Address the ego element

Aside from just the financial burden of job loss, a lot of the anxiety also comes from what we’ve called the ‘ego crisis’. For most people, a high portion of their self-esteem is linked to their own ideas of what defines success and achievement. That means that, for a lot of us, if we’re not breaking our backs to work 80 hour weeks, we’ve failed – but that’s simply not true! Now is the time to really introspect and think about what will give you purpose over the next few weeks. What are your main sources of happiness and in what areas of your life can you find peace and comfort? Is it work? Maybe not. Instead, it could be something that’s usually overlooked – your health, your family and your friends.

Another great way to fight the ego-trap is to also take the time to appreciate your own qualities that you may have never stopped to acknowledge before. That could be your amazing sense of adventure, a strong work ethic or even something as simple as your sense of humour. Acknowledging those things can help you practice self-love and give you better tools to maintain your mental health. If you need a little more guidance, check out this blog for ideal activities that will help you maintain a positive self image.

3. Keep Perspective

Guilt and anxiety are common feelings most people experience when they first lose their job. It’s easy to blame yourself or think that you did something wrong, but it’s time to give that unemployment guilt the axe. Putting the blame on yourself will only make the situation that much harder to deal with.

Please remember that it’s okay to share this struggle with others. It may seem as if the world is collapsing around you, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this. Lean on your friends and family for support. Let them know any troubling feelings or frustrations you are experiencing. Most importantly, keep in mind that none of this is your fault. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is predicted that over 1.6 million jobs will be lost in the country in 2020. That number alone provides some perspective as to how far-reaching the consequences of this pandemic are. That’s why you have to keep your head straight and remind yourself that this will not last forever and that a set-back does not mean a game-over.

4. Direct your energy towards healthy living

If you love exercise, put your energy and focus towards developing that passion. Devote some time everyday to trying new routines and find new ways to push yourself. First establish a realistic fitness plan and adapt your training and exercise routine from there. Another helpful tip is to try to use this time to tackle those hard-to-break unhealthy eating habits. Take the plunge – completely clean out those cupboards and chuck away all the harmful sugary foods and snacks. Try to prepare a meal plan to keep yourself on track every day and mix things up by checking out some new, healthy recipes. If you want to try your hand in the kitchen, give this lemon garlic baked salmon recipe a go.

It’s also a great idea to take at least 30 minutes a day to spend on you-time and try to self-reflect. Find a peaceful place and read a book. Being alone in a quiet space is a great way to get in touch with your body and yourself. If something like meditation has never appealed to you, check out these 8 mindful alternatives to meditation.

5. Rethink your goals

This is a chance to reassess your life, your goals and where you’d like to go from here. Be sure not to confuse uncertainty with negativity. Maybe you have a secret knack for management and some killer people skills but human resources is never something you’ve considered before because you were so entrenched in your old job?

There are countless fields and new opportunities, and now you have the ability to actually devote time and energy to learning new skills in a way you never could before. Take some time to figure out your passions. Take a short course or higher certificate online to build on your expertise and work towards a new career pathway. Through sites such as Shaw Academy, Alison and edX, online learning is more accessible and cheaper than it’s ever better before.

6. Spice up your CV

Especially if you have been working full-time for the same company over the last few years, it may have been a while since you dusted off your CV and gave it a revamp. Update your resume with any new valuable skills and experience you’ve picked up over this time. If you’ve created your own business, even better.

Put the knowledge you’ve harnessed to good use. Identify any transferable skills and make yourself as marketable as possible. It could be time to apply your expertise to a different field and try something new. Remember, try to be patient if you don’t get any immediate responses. You’ve got experience and that’s the golden ticket. Everything else just takes time.

WellBe’s got your back

At WellBe it is our personal mission to ensure that our customers receive the care and support we know they deserve. When everything else is going waywards, we know there’s one thing you can control – your health and your wellbeing. Your health is invaluable so now is the time to make lasting changes, one habit at a time.

If you need that extra motivational push, check out our Instagram page – comment, ask questions, let us know how you’re feeling and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. If you’d like some more information about our health hacks, wellness advice and fitness tips, feel free to contact us. We’ve here to share honest knowledge and personal experience about health and forming better habits for life.

May 12, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Work Well Comments Off

THE INS AND OUTS OF OFFICE ERGONOMICS: HOW TO MAINTAIN HEALTH AND FOCUS WHILE WORKING FROM HOME

A brief introduction

Working from home can be a challenge. It’s uncomfortable and unfamiliar for many of us – especially when we’ve become so accustomed to the structure of working in an office, as well as the added motivation of having hard-working colleagues all around us. While it may be an adjustment, there’s actually a surprising number of unexpected benefits when it comes to working from home. Working in your own workspace means you have absolute freedom. You can choose the perfect setup that will tailor your space to fit your needs, ensure optimal efficiency and help you maintain your physical health.

That’s why having a keen ability to apply office ergonomics at home can help you maximize your workspace. While many of us are not naturally gifted with a built-in knowledge of design and ergonomics, there are some really simple steps that will put you on the right path. Here we’ll give you a good start with our top-of-the-line tips to utilize your workstation in a way that will be best for your productivity and for your health.

What exactly is office ergonomics?

Don’t let the unfamiliar term fool you, it’s actually a very simple concept which can be executed easily. Basically, it’s all about the science of fitting a workplace to a user’s needs while increasing efficiency and productivity, as well as reducing discomfort in a workspace. Think of ergonomics as ‘comfort design’ or arranging a workspace in a specific way for your particular requirements. It’s about making a space as user-friendly as possible and, at home, that user is you.

Your needs

Because it’s your home office, it’s all about your necessities and your requirements. Creating a positive work environment that will cater to your capabilities and daily work tasks is the ultimate goal. You want to feel comfortable, organized and know that it is truly a productive space.

Equipped for ultimate organization

Different job tasks require different setups. For example, if your work is largely tech-based and involves a lot of graphic design, you may want to opt for a bigger monitor that takes up more desk space so that you can perform tasks with greater ease and speed. If you have a number of different clients, each aligned with a different company and their own varying expectations, you may want to have your calendar and weekly planner front and centre on the desk to refer back to every now and again and make sure you’re up to date with all the different deadlines.

Think about the materials and kind of storage space you need. If you do a lot of office administration and need more space for filing and document storage, that’s an important thing to consider when using the space to fit your own priorities. It’s also really important to focus on small things like adequate lighting or how close your desk is to power outlets and the printer. These small things will make your life a little bit easier, we guarantee it. Also try to check that you have adequate access to WiFi before you choose your workroom so that you aren’t slowed down by slow-loading internet pages and poor connection – that’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out.

Productivity

The holy trinity of productivity is simple: privacy, organization and comfort. Without those three things, your focus can easily be inhibited and you’ll find your motivation waning.

1. Privacy

Above all, it’s important to settle on a place where you can shut out all distractions and focus on the task at hand. Try turning an empty room into a home office. If that’s not an option and you’re going to work in the dining room instead, make sure you inform the rest of the house that this will be your working space for the time being and set personal boundaries during your work hours.

Be sure to identify and cut out all distractions beforehand. Find what derails you and eliminate the causes. For example, if it’s the TV, chores on your to-do list or distractions from your family as they go about their at-home life, understand that this could hinder your work and come up with a solution to minimize the impact.

2. Organization

Create an organizational system. File, colour-code and use sticky notes – whatever works for you. Sometimes, just seeing that things are filed, categorized and in the right place could make you feel less stressed and create a better work environment.

Now that you’ve got your workspace arranged and in order, you can also give these 6 simple office hacks a try in order to increase your productivity and enhance your work drive using these other helpful techniques.

3. Comfort

This is potentially the most important of all three. Not only is comfort essential for your mental function and focus, but also for your physical health. Wherever you set up your home office, try to find a space that offers a comfortable workspace that does not sit your body in an stressful position or one that may be difficult to stay in for a number of hours per day.

An uncomfortable workplace can place strain on your lower back, neck and shoulders. Below we give you our best tips to reduce strain and daily pain by implementing these handy tweaks to your office setup. This is really where the tools of office ergonomics come in. Physical comfort using design is the goal. This can help you decrease the risk of developing strain injuries or any unwanted discomfort from work-related pain.

Reducing pain using ergonomics

Height and desk spacing

Choose a space that has a desk which will be the right height for you and that will allow you to work in a comfortable position. While it may seem super appealing to spend the day in your pajamas working in bed, it’s important to resist that temptation. This can be burdensome on your back and, if you repeatedly maintain the bad posture that comes from working in bed, it can cause prolonged lower back or neck pain.

Ideally, a home office with a sturdy desk and chair is first prize. You’ll need a desk of the right height or otherwise an adjustable chair so that you are able to rest your arms on the table comfortably. A table that is too high or too low can cause discomfort, so try aiming for one that’s about 70cm to 76cm. If you don’t have a home office, however, the height of a typical kitchen or dining room table is about right and can be used to substitute a desk if you’re happy to set up your home office there.

It may also help to place the monitor or laptop directly in front of you on the desk, roughly an arm’s length away. The screen should be at or slightly below eye level to avoid neck tension from straining to see the monitor. If you feel uncomfortable in any way, remember to adjust your environment to suit your body and never the other way around.

Your chair and footrest

According to Mayo Clinic, posture is of primary importance. Be sure to choose a chair that allows you to keep your back in an upright position, supports your spinal curves and allows you to rest your feet flat on the floor. If you need to raise your chair in order to accommodate your desk height, then rest your feet comfortably on a footrest to avoid adopting bad posture. If you’re still feeling any discomfort after following these tips, try getting a foam or blow-up backrest to line your chair.

Your keyboard, mouse and phone

Place your mouse and keyboard within easy reach to avoid unnecessary stretching. When using your mouse and keyboard, you should be able to keep your wrists straight, your upper arms close to your body, and your hands at or slightly below the level of your elbows.

Also try to keep key objects such as your phone, calendar and stationery relatively close by to minimize reaching. If you use your phone throughout most of the day to take calls, get yourself a headset or speaker system to avoid cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder and causing neck pain.

Take advantage of your perks

With all the technicalities of creating a perfect, productive workspace, it’s important to still remember to relax and have fun from time to time. While you may miss the comfort and security of an office environment, being at home has its many perks.

Now you’ve got the freedom to use half an hour for yourself during the day and take a quick break from your work to do something fun like try a new peanut butter and rice crispy treat recipe. Maybe even do a quick, no-equipment exercise session. When you work at an office it feels like there’s never enough time for yourself and sometimes the feeling stays with you, even when you get home. Take advantage of being in your own space and in control of your own time. You deserve it.

Another handy tip

Beware of what some people are now calling ‘work creep’. Maximizing productivity and remaining focused is essential, but it’s necessary to set boundaries too. Moving your career into your home space can be an invasive presence in your everyday at-home life.

It’s easy to answer emails, pick up work calls and try to quickly finish drafting that last bit of a brief when your work is always right in front of you. That’s why you have to be strict with yourself by creating designated work hours and practise sticking to them. A healthy working schedule is a large part of maintaining a healthy mind and healthy relationships.

WellBe’s word on the subject

Now that you’ve got your understanding of office ergonomics down, it’s time to get your body and mind functioning at the same optimal level. That means taking a good look at your physical and mental health. At WellBe&Co we want you to have the most focused, motivated outlook possible when it comes to your health – which is why we want to share our 6 steps to establishing a realistic fitness plan. We also break down the key to mental health maintenance by exploring the brain-body connection in this informative blog.

Not only that, but we also provide handy meal ideas, at-home exercises and daily “think well” tidbits of advice on our Instagram page. You’ll get a different one for each day of the lockdown to keep you on-track and excited about your fitness journey.

If that’s not enough and you want to get even more involved, contact us here to start the process of developing your own personalised health and wellness program. We truly do want you to be “Happier. Healthier. Wellthier”.

April 29, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Work Well Comments Off

HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE WHILE WORKING FROM HOME: 10 TIPS TO GET THE WORK DONE

With the announcement of the 21-day lockdown in South Africa, which started at midnight the 26th of March 2020, as well as the accepted practise of social distancing and self-isolation, more and more of us are now working from home.

And let’s be honest – working from home is something many of us have been wanting to chat to our bosses about implementing more regularly. But working from home during a global pandemic can have a bit of a strange and uneasy feeling to it.

Some of us are more productive when we work from home. And others? Not so much. And that’s okay. But at the end of the day, your boss (even if you are your own boss) expects you to get the work done. It might feel like the world is coming to a screeching halt, but that doesn’t mean that deadlines don’t exist.

When you’re at work (at the office office), then your coworkers are likely to pose the greatest threat to interrupting your work. They might drop by your desk for a chat, invite you to lunch or even just frustrate you with their annoying desire to always spread the office gossip (I mean, no one really cares that Karen’s shoes don’t match her blouse, Judy).

At your home office, you pretty much become your own worst enemy. That’s because your home is loaded with distractions. And, this one is kinda obvious, no one is watching or micromanaging you. Oh, and also, you don’t have to wear pants.

That’s why we have put together a bunch of effective and simple tips to make working from home productive.

1. Replace the time spent sitting in traffic with exercise

Your morning commute no longer exists – hooray! But that doesn’t mean you should spend that extra hour or so hitting snooze and tangled under the covers. Even if it is really cosy.

Many freelancers and entrepreneurs have said that starting their day with some exercise helps their mind and body align to the day ahead. Exercise will leave you feeling energised, get the blood flowing and help you to focus throughout the day.

When you wake up, go for a walk, put on a yoga YouTube video – click on the link to check out some of our favourites, or burn some calories with an at-home workout routine – no matter what you do, just make sure you get moving.

2. Shower and get out of your PJs

It’s hard to get into work-mode when your outfit screams “bed mode.”

We’re not saying you have to put on a suit and tie, or a pencil skirt and stilettos, but having a shower to freshen up and getting changed into clothes that aren’t your track pants and oversized hoodie is a great way to get your head in the game and start your day.

After you are all fresh and clean, have a nutritious breakfast to kickstart your day and keep your mind focused on the task at hand. These Berry Overnight Oats are a great option to try!

3. Create a dedicated workspace

Now is the time to clear out some space in your house to create a dedicated working area. Instead of copping yourself up on your bed or on the couch, clearly differentiate between spaces of leisure and work in your house. This will help you to get into the right frame of mind.

4. Turn off your social media notifications

Make it hard for yourself to get distracted by social media. Turn off your notifications for Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms on your phone. Close all social media tabs open on your computer.

5. Work when you are the most productive

Figure out what hours you are most productive and create your work schedule around those times. Some people are more productive in the early hours of the morning or in the evening. Others might prefer to work during regular working hours (8 to 5 sort of thing) to stick to their accustomed routine. Find out what works for you and create your workload to fit into those productive hours.

Expert tip: You can use your slower points of the day to get cracking on easier and possibly more logistical tasks and keep your more complicated work for when you are firing on all cylinders.

6. Create a to-do list at the end of every day for the following day

Before you finally call it a day, create a to-do list of what you need to get done the following day. Make use of digital project management systems like Monday (a super simple project management tool).

7. Create playlists for certain tasks

Listen to music that matches the energy of your projects. For example, video game soundtracks are lyric-free and can help you focus on your work.

Another great example (and one of our personal favourites) is lo-fi hip hop. Take a look at some other examples here.

8. Meal prep

There’s nothing more distracting than trying to find something to eat in a fridge that seems pretty bare. It’s a good idea to prep your meals for the week to minimise time spent in the kitchen when you could be getting important work tasks done. Plus, meal prepping will also help you ensure you stick to a healthy eating plan.

9. Take regular breaks

It’s easy to get sucked into your work and forget to take breaks. This will undoubtedly lead to burnout. Some experts suggest setting a timer on your phone for every 50 minutes. When the timer goes off, get up from your desk, close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths.

You can also use your breaks to complete a chore around the house, go for a walk (if you can leave your home) or even squeeze in a quick 10-minute yoga workout.

10. Focus on one task at a time

Multitasking is not going to help you get your work done. The more you attempt to complete various tasks in parallel, the more energy you have to invest in just tracking your task and keeping things in order. When you focus on one task at a time, you can then redirect your mental and physical energy on being more productive.

Follow these top tips to get your work done effectively while working from home!

March 31, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Work Well Comments Off

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TIPS TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER AT WORK

An employee’s relationship with their manager and executive team is a stepping stone to the rest of their career.

You, as a manager, set the tone for how happy an employee is and often you’re a reflection of how an employee does and acts towards others. The particular skills a manager needs to develop these relationships can be honed through practice and experience.

A manager with poor people management skills can be a problem for a company and its people. It leads to top performers leaving the company after only a short period of time, unsatisfied customers and unaddressed problems which can cost a company a lot of money over the years.

It takes someone special to be an effective and admirable leader but there are a few things you can do to become a better leader at work. Keep going, our top management tips await you!

What does it mean to be a leader?

Does it mean being good at your job, being well-liked, or being in charge of everyone?

Leadership doesn’t have a one size fits all definition, and there is no magic formula that will instantly make you a great leader. Instead, it takes time and dedication to learn how to achieve the goals you set, and how to inspire others to follow you and do the same.

Everyone has their different ways of doing this, whether it’s through rewards, allowing more freedom within job roles or getting stuck into the job alongside your employees. Each approach works differently for everyone, but each type of leader has taken time to figure out their style.

Leadership qualities are unique to you but there are certain things you can take into consideration and certain things you can do to be an even better leader.

6 effective management tips

1. Trust is everything

Showing and telling employees you trust them is a great way to empower them and give them a sense of ownership in their work. It’s the best way for your employees to grow and become confident when taking on challenges. Building trust is a long-term strategy that takes constant work. You can increase trust by:

Keeping your promises to employees
Giving your employees space and time to complete their tasks
Supporting reasonable risks
Explaining the reasoning and data behind decisions and evaluations

2. Honest and open communication is key

Your employees want to stay informed about the business as much as you do, so keep them in the loop. Don’t let them hear about big changes at the company from various co-workers next to the coffee machine. It raises issues about transparency in the company and reduces their trust in you.

It’s important to build an environment where everyone’s opinion is heard. Make your employees feel comfortable enough to come to you with any concern they have or if they need some mentorship.

3. A little credit goes a long way

It should go without saying that employees like to be rewarded and recognised for their efforts and successes. Always reward members of your staff for their hard work. This applies to more than just the top performers; make it a point to recognise those who are improving and doing their best.

4. Opportunities and growth

A willingness to provide opportunities for professional development and growth is an important aspect of any job.

This is tied to knowing your staff members, their strengths and weaknesses, and recommending ways for them to continually improve. Whether it be an online course, funding for books, or part-time courses, employees should always have access to various avenues of self-improvement (this does not include encouraging them to watch YouTube tutorials).

5. Constructive criticism builds champions

One of the most important people management skills is the ability to give useful, welcomed feedback. You have to be straight with employees, and they want to hear feedback from their managers — but you don’t have to be unnecessarily harsh.

6. Remember your employees’ wellness

A great employee will go the extra mile for you but it’s up to you to look after them and make sure they’re not eating and breathing their job. Instilling a well-balanced work-life is essential to being a good leader. For some tips, take a look at this article.

Being a better leader is a constant work in progress but it’s also important to remember that the office environment is also a massive contributing factor to your employees’ happiness in the workplace as well as your effectiveness at being a great leader. Find out how to create a healthier and happier work environment here.

February 18, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Work Well Comments Off

5 STEPS TO A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER & MORE PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE

The new decade is well underway and can I just say, I for one am incredibly excited for this year and the opportunities to come!

Of course, with the start of the new year, we often tend to hit the ground running. We all know the rush of a new year. Trying to find our feet and get back into a routine but most importantly getting adjusted and back into the swing of things at work can be difficult. As each day passes, work can become a little more unpleasant for all employees… but it doesn’t have to be!

There are programs you can put in place to improve employee health and wellness, and as a whole, this aims to help reduce sick absenteeism, improve employee productivity and enhance the overall work environment. You’re probably wondering how we’re going to do that?

Have you ever heard of an employee wellness program? Massive brands like Google and Virgin have implemented these sorts of programs into their companies and have seen the benefits in happier, more productive employees who actually want to come to work.

What is an employee wellness program?

There’s no one definition that defines an employee wellness program and there’s no right or wrong way of doing it. It all depends on the needs of your employees.

An employee wellness program is just what the name suggests. It is a plan put in place to increase the overall health and happiness of your employees. It’s a little way of showing that you as an employer care about your people. No matter the size of your company, you can start your own employee wellness program in just 5 easy steps.

Some programs focus on health education, other programs host health days where screenings are conducted and employees are able to learn more about their own health. A wellness program can be as simple as morning meditations and rewards for healthy and active lifestyles among your employees. There are many ways of implementing a wellness program.

Don’t worry if you feel a little confused or slightly overwhelmed – we can help you!

What are the benefits of employee wellness programs?

Healthy and happy employees bring an array of benefits to the workplace! Some of these include:

More productive employees

There are numerous studies that suggest a healthy lifestyle correlates with increased productivity. Don’t believe us? Next time you hit a rut, get your heart rate up (deep breathing and a few jumping jacks can do the trick!) or change your snacks to some nutritious ones and you’ll likely get back into the zone.

For more information on office productivity, read this article!

Less office stress

Too many people and companies accept workplace stress as the norm. But it leads to burnout, which can result in higher employee turnover. This is why a wellness program is important. It will give your employees a new perspective of the workplace.

Fewer colds, flu and other illnesses

Everyone knows healthy practices prevent illness. And your business will have a higher rate of success when fewer sick days are taken.

Fewer office-related injuries

Taking a break to exercise or just stretch prevents common office injuries.

Happier employees

Offering a wellness program leads to happier employees. They’ll appreciate the benefit and be generally positive because they’re leading a healthy life and they will be happier knowing that the place they work at cares about them.

Where to start

It can be difficult navigating your way through an employee wellness program to figure out the best approach and what’s suited to your employees (but that’s what we’re here for).

These 5 steps are the perfect way to get started! Let’s take a look…

1. Identify current issues

A little research goes a long way! You will struggle to improve employee health and wellness without figuring out what some of the main issues are first.

Look at time and attendance, days of sick leave taken, employee satisfaction and stress levels, as well as extended health insurance costs. Talk to both management and employees to get an understanding of where the biggest issues are.

We, at WellBe, see this as a pivotal step in starting an employee wellness program because it puts you in the right direction of what’s important and what’s needed.

2. Get input from everyone

Once you’ve found out some of the areas that need some work, chat with your employees to figure out what they’d like and what they’d what to get out of the wellness program.

It’s pointless implementing a program that no one is interested in.

3. Make a plan that fits

Now that you’ve collected your data, you can start putting a plan together. Remember to make sure the plan is aligned with your company culture so that more employees are excited to get on board! If you need a little assistance, get in touch with our team and we can help develop a personalised plan for your company and the needs of your employees.

4. Encourage employee and management buy-in

Communicate the plan throughout the office and get management involved. This way more employees will be excited to take part.

5. Track, measure and readjust

As with any workplace policy, measuring success, soliciting feedback, and adjusting accordingly will be key to the long-term success of an employee wellness program. This can be done by taking surveys or asking a variety of employees for their feedback.

It’s also a good idea to celebrate achievements; anything from recognising individual employee goals for better health to crowning winners of office challenges can go a long way towards building support around the program.

Employee wellness programs are growing in popularity by the day and for good reason. These programs are important to the happiness of your employees and the overall success of your business. These programs are a great way of showing your employees that you value them!

Some examples of effective employee wellness programs

I mentioned how your employee wellness initiative doesn’t have to be fancy and complicated. Not in the least. In fact, here are some simple solutions to improving employee wellness:

Healthy snacks in the breakroom
Healthy meals in the canteen
Walking meetings
Discounts off gym memberships for employees
Sunrise yoga on certain mornings
Challenge boards where employees can write down their health goals (run a 5km race, lose weight, stop smoking etc.) and rewards are given to those who achieve their goals.
On-site massage therapists
On-site psychologist or life coach

You can find more detail on these examples here.

The final word

We know you’re probably very busy though and the logistics of a wellness program might sound a little time-consuming but that’s why we’re here! Find out more about the employee wellness programs we do and let us know if we can help you!

January 21, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Work Well Comments Off

6 SIMPLE OFFICE HACKS TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

Getting back into the swing of things at the beginning of the year is no easy task. Our minds tend to wander back to days next to the pool and we can’t stop longing for fun family activities instead of long meetings (that could have been an email instead). This can often lead to feelings of anxiety and stress because we are struggling to get our tasks done. We all know the struggle but the truth us, work doesn’t have to be like this.

Setting new goals, getting back into a routine and becoming more productive will leave you feeling accomplished at the end of every day. With just a few simple hacks, you’ll end each day feeling energised by your accomplishments!

There are only so many hours in the day, so it’s essential to make the most of your time. There are two ways to increase your productivity, you can either put in more hours or work smarter. We definitely prefer the latter!

Remember, being busy doesn’t always mean you are being productive. Just some food for thought.

Simple office hacks

1. Set small goals

Most of us look at goals as a tedious exercise because let’s be real, do any of us actually stick to them? It’s time to change your opinion on goal setting.

Goals don’t have to only be about where you see yourself in 5 years or the New Years Resolutions you recently set. Your goals can be small deadlines or to-do lists you make to hold yourself accountable each day. Setting goals will help you break down your calendar into smaller, less overwhelming tasks and make you more in control. This enables you to meet your goals and be more productive.

2. Take regular breaks – downtime is important

This sounds like the opposite of being more productive but hear me out. Taking scheduled breaks can actually help improve concentration. Research has shown that taking short breaks during long tasks or during a long day helps you to maintain a constant level of performance. Whereas working at a long task without any breaks leads to a steady decline in performance.

This little step will also ensure your quality of work is always at a maximum!

3. Avoid multitasking

It may feel more productive to be doing multiple tasks at once and we’re often taught that multitasking increases efficiency. This is far from the truth though.

Research shows that multitasking can make us up to 40% less productive – shocking! When multitasking, our focus is split into several tasks which means we do not complete each task at optimum capacity. This means you will take longer to complete tasks and more often than not, the quality of work you produce will slip.

4. Put the distractions away

Our phones are our biggest distractions. Keep your phone on silent while you’re completing tasks and keep it out of sight. This will limit your distractions and enable you to truly hone in on what you’re doing.

It might be beneficial for you to work with earphones in as well to limit the many distractions you can hear around you.

5. Keep active

Keeping active during the week may help improve productivity. This doesn’t mean spending hours on the treadmill at the gym but where possible, build in set times during the week for taking a walk or doing something active.

Getting your blood pumping could be just what’s needed to clear your head and get your focus back. You can even inspire your coworkers to do the same, take a look at this article for some tips!

6. Eat nutritious food throughout the day

The food we eat is extremely important in boosting our brainpower and impacting how productive we are at work. High sugar snacks can cause a decrease in your productivity and lead to energy crashes.

Keep healthy snacks at your office or create healthy meals to stay fueled for a productive day.

Not every day at the office will be a perfectly productive one. Make sure you don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, refocus your energy and implement these tips. Once you find what works for you, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done both in and out of the office.

I’m off for a walk to refocus, how are you keeping productive today?

January 14, 2020 Gemma Oberholzer Work Well Comments Off