Today’s blog piece is an excerpt from ‘Thriving Leaders Thriving Teams; a new book from  Manawatu-based workplace wellness coach, Lauren Parsons.

It has been reprinted with Lauren’s generous permission and her book is available from Wellington City Libraries.

Whether you like it or not, as a leader you have a key role to play to help your team thrive. 

I’ve never met a leader who wanted demotivated, burnt-out staff who were struggling personally or professionally. Fortunately, there are so many ways you can influence your team’s wellbeing – both by the way you show up and the way you shape the environment. 

Just as a master gardener cultivates the ideal environment for their plants to flourish, so too, you can cultivate the ideal workplace environment where your people will thrive.

My Wellbeing-Focused Leadership Model shows you how to do this. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the six things great leaders do well:

1. Lead self 

Demonstrate a commitment to your own and others’ wellbeing in your day-to-day habits and rituals. Influence by example.

2. Build trust and belonging

Foster a highly connected and supportive team environment where people feel safe, included and motivated, where they can speak with candour, have a deep sense of belonging, and feel inspired and purpose-driven.

3. Boost energy and effectiveness

Create an environment that boosts vitality, helping people perform at their best, work in sync with each other and manage their time, energy and attention well. Establish clear rules and rituals that prevent technology from hindering wellbeing, while also leveraging its potential.

4. Address stress and prevent burnout

Identify and manage psychosocial risks and design good work that prevents undue harm. Equip staff to remain in eustress (good stress) and know how to spot the signs of mental distress and respond effectively, using exceptional communication skills and providing the right support. 

5. Leverage recognition

Encourage the behaviours you want from your team. Create a culture of praise and appreciation throughout your organisation that increases motivation, wellbeing and performance.

6. Measure and evolve

Measure what matters, monitor what works and constantly adapt, evolve and improve over time.

These six things all interrelate. Rather than relying solely on bottom-of-the-cliff approaches, by focusing on these keys proactively you can build a robust, wellbeing-focused culture that helps staff deal with stress, boosts resilience and maximises performance.

The place you’ll start will depend on you and your organisation. The second half of my book Thriving Leaders Thriving Teams outlines each of these in detail and includes a handy action checklist to highlight which areas your organisation has the opportunity to enhance, helping you identify a start point.

About Lauren:

Lauren is an award-winning Wellbeing Specialist with over 20 years’ experience in the health and wellbeing profession. A  TEDx speaker, Author of Real food, less fuss, founder of the Snack on Exercise movement and host of the THRIVE TV Show, Lauren believes that everyone deserves to thrive. 

 Previously a senior lecturer at the New Zealand College of Fitness, a qualified Life Coach and with a business degree and post-grad specialising in HR, Lauren is a sought-after international speaker, coach and consultant who integrates her wellness and business background to help organisations create a peak-performance team culture, where people thrive.

Thriving leaders thriving teams / Parsons, Lauren
“Feeling flat, tired or overwhelmed? Concerned you or your colleagues are headed for burnout? Poor health and mental distress are on the rise globally. People are suffering in silence. The talent shortage makes it critical workplaces set themselves apart as desirable employers, to attract and retain great people. Not enough leaders understand how to create true workplace wellbeing. Unfortunately, too many organisations – often inadvertently – treat people as ‘assets’ or ‘resources’ to be used rather than human beings to be nurtured, motivated and celebrated. This needs to change. A complete guide, packed with the latest research, inspiring stories, and practical tools to help you boost your wellbeing, energy and vitality, even if you’re busy and “don’t have time”; be a better leader and help others thrive, no matter what your role; cultivate a positive, energised workplace culture. Thriving Leaders, Thriving Teams is for anyone, from aspiring leaders through to CEOs. Just as master gardeners create the right environment for plants to thrive, leaders must cultivate the ideal environment for their people to flourish. This book shows you how.” Publisher.” (Catalogue)

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