Creating a Workplace Culture People Love

Creating a Workplace Culture People Love

Improving workplace culture is a thorny issue for most business leaders. It’s something that they probably know is important, but can’t quite get a handle on. Finance, strategy, product development, operations – those are the tangible, measurable elements of their business. But Culture? That’s the definition of the “soft stuff,” the stuff they probably skimmed over in business school, the stuff that makes their eyes glaze over whenever speakers bring it up at conferences. Source However, more and more leaders are learning it’s no coincidence that the biggest, best, and most innovative companies also happen to have great cultures. In fact, so often these companies are great precisely because they have […]

Forbes: Work-Life Balance Vs. Work-Life Integration, Is There Really A Difference?

Forbes: Work-Life Balance Vs. Work-Life Integration, Is There Really A Difference?

Most people have heard the term “work-life balance,” but in recent years, the phrase “work-life integration” has been gaining popularity and given way to headlines such as “work-life balance is dead” and “work-life integration: the new norm.” Despite the growing popularity of work-life integration, is there really a difference between it and work-life balance? Source According to Merriam-Webster.com the word “integrate” is defined as “to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole.” Thereby concluding that work-life integration focuses on incorporating the different area’s of one’s life to create a whole picture. Balance, on the other hand, has almost twice as many definitions on Merriam-Webster including, “stability produced by even distribution of […]

Work-Life Balance is Dead | Here is why we should aim for work-life integration instead

Work-Life Balance is Dead | Here is why we should aim for work-life integration instead

Once upon a time, work took place outside of the home during designated hours. Today, that world is a fairy tale. If you checked your work email this past weekend, you’re likely aware that at most companies there is an unspoken expectation that employees tend to emails at all hours. Ron Friedman, Ph.D. is a social psychologist specializing in human motivation Source: PsychologyToday.com It would be easy to blame heartless managers or short-sighted CEOs for the collapsing boundaries between work and life. But the causes of this cultural shift are far more complex. As human beings, we thrive on feeling needed. Neurologically, certain elements of work can be addictive. Studies […]

Forbes: The Truth About Employee Well-Being: Research Shows What Really Works

Forbes: The Truth About Employee Well-Being: Research Shows What Really Works

It turns out, a basket of fresh apples and an awe-inspiring motivational poster don’t count as a comprehensive wellness plan. But, according to research, it also turns out that comprehensive wellness plans alone often fall short of truly impacting an employee’s overall well-being—a concept that encompasses much more than just physical health. Source | David Sturt and Todd Nordstrom As a disclaimer, we don’t have anything against apples and motivational posters. In fact, we’re huge fans of comprehensive wellness programs—those that provide a laser-tight focus on physical health and include healthy snacks, fitness routines, and comprehensive information that could help employees improve their own health. However, new research reveals that when […]

What is Employee Wellbeing, Why is it so important and What does Research say?

What is Employee Wellbeing, Why is it so important and What does Research say?

For most us, our lives are made up mostly of work. Companies are learning that acknowledging – rather than denying – this fact is not just the right thing to do, but also a sound business decision. In a recent interview, ‘Life is Good’ founder Bert Jacobs emphasized that focusing on things like employee wellbeing has an often under-acknowledged business benefit for organizations. Source The National Wellness Institute defines ‘wellness’ as an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward a more healthy and successful life. According to Jacobs, focusing on employee wellbeing and purpose is “a smart strategy for building a strong business….The organization only […]

Few Healthier Office Snacks & Drinks Your Coworkers Will Rave About

Few Healthier Office Snacks & Drinks Your Coworkers Will Rave About

‘Xmas is the season for office snacks and happenings! These unique office snacks will keep your colleagues happy, healthy—and impressed with you—all season long. Source Delightful Drinks Party treats should lift you up, not weigh you down. Choose any of these delicious beverages if you’re looking for a refreshing office party treat. Tea Set out a carafe of steaming water with an assortment of tea bags, some orange slices, and maybe even a few cinnamon sticks for an easy office party treat to warm your coworkers’ hearts. Lavender Lemonade Combine the crisp flavor of lemon with the floral aroma of lavender to create a beverage perfect for washing down all […]

20 Easy Tips to Increase Productivity at Work (+4 you can start tomorrow)

20 Easy Tips to Increase Productivity at Work (+4 you can start tomorrow)

It seems like more and more companies are adopting the motto “do more with less”. So where does that leave you? Scrambling to complete deadlines, wearing 18 different hats, answering a river of emails and phone calls… you get the point. The goal of this post is to help you find ways for you and your team to increase productivity at work. Instead of trying to do a bunch of these at once, find a couple that you can implement within your organization or department and practice them for at least 21 days. (the time it typically takes to form a new habit) Source List your “crucial results” for the […]

Engagement Ideas that actually make sense (especially in Greece)

Engagement Ideas that actually make sense (especially in Greece)

Employees are the most important part of any organisation. Employees at every level should feel motivated and happy to give their best to their responsibilities. Engaging them helps a company achieve this, which in turn leads to the company’s success.   In our previous article we connected the dots between what engagement is, its importance, some of the broader results it can bring along and provided a wide approach to it. Now, let’s look at few great ideas that can be implemented locally and connect the dots with Wellness this time! Source Employees need something for motivation (Besides money) Consider any sport. Sure, the winners make money. But what drives […]

Employee Engagement – The What, Why’s n Results

Employee Engagement – The What, Why’s n Results

Employee engagement is a workplace approach resulting in the right conditions for all members of an organisation to give of their best each day, committed to their organisation’s goals and values, motivated to contribute to organisational success, with an enhanced sense of their own well-being.   According to David Macleod: “This is about how we create the conditions in which employees offer more of their capability and potential”. Employee engagement is based on trust, integrity, two way commitment and communication between an organisation and its members. It is an approach that increases the chances of business success, contributing to organisational and individual performance, productivity and well-being. It can be measured. It varies […]

Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation not only reduces stress, here’s how it changes your brain

Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation not only reduces stress, here’s how it changes your brain

Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, was one of the first scientists to take the anecdotal claims about the benefits of meditation and mindfulness and test them in brain scans. What she found surprised her — that meditating can literally change your brain.   She explains: Source: Health Science Journal.gr  & remedyspot.com Q: Why did you start looking at meditation and mindfulness and the brain? Lazar: A friend and I were training for the Boston marathon. I had some running injuries, so I saw a physical therapist who told me to stop running and just stretch. So I started practicing yoga as a form of […]