Ask Anna – Everyone in my organization is burned out
Dear Anna,
Everyone in my organization is burned out and we are losing people left and right. Everyone is under an immense amount of pressure and our leadership team is not getting along. What do you think about a wellness program? Would that help?
SK
Dear SK,
I admire your instinct to help people and your focus on health. You clearly care a lot about your people and that is foundational to what I am going to say next.
Ask them. Organizations waste time and money in search of something that will magically turn the ship around in these situations. They believe (or want to believe) that there is something they can just add to their suite of benefits to ensure everyone will be delighted to work there.
Nope, and here’s why:
Fact 1: Human beings are all different.
Even if I love the idea of a wellness program, some of my fellow employees may not. Without voluntary participation the wellness program would not be successful. If the wellness program were meditation at lunchtime, I wouldn’t like it. My friend Amelia would love that. The organization needs to find a way to be more flexible to meet all types of needs.
Fact 2: The leadership team, who are the decision makers, are not representative of the rest of the organization.
Leadership teams often make decisions by saying, “That’s something I would like which means everyone else would too.” Members of the leadership team have a fundamentally different relationship with the organization and the others who work there than the rest of the organization.
Fact 3: Demonstrating that you are listening and responding is 90% of the challenge.
Employees will feel empowered if they are part of the solution instead of the company announcing that they have installed treadmill desks for everyone. Let employees be part of the solution.
So, how do you ask them? The easiest way is an all employee survey that is honest in its questions, provides employees a chance to elaborate, and is completely anonymous. The second best way is to establish or consult a representative employee group or committee who can solicit information from the rest of the organization.
Again, I applaud your desire to find a solution. Write me back with what you found.
Anna
