Well-Being at Work – Giving Will Increase Everyone’s Well-Being

Our well-being is important, our well-being at work also important. If you look up the term well-being you won’t find just one word to describe it.  There are many different words and phrases you can use, each with its own little nuance.

Well-being isn’t something you talk about in regular conversation. You wouldn’t say, “How is your well-being?”  And yet, most people have a pretty good idea of what it means.  It doesn’t mean just “being well”. It’s much more than that. It’s a combination of feelings and functions;  physical, social, emotional and practical.

In previous blogs, we’ve talked about how giving increases one’s happiness and personal well-being.  When you give – of yourself, of your money, of your time – you come away feeling better.  There are studies to prove this.  Usually, these studies are talking about individual giving.

But what about group well-being? And how can you achieve it at work?

Team-Work Increases Well-Being

You know the feeling.  When people work together as a team, with everyone giving their all, each individual contribution can increase the whole group’s motivation, confidence and enthusiasm. When the project goes well, everyone shares in that sense of well-being.

It’s more than the feeling of doing a good job. It’s the confidence and optimism everyone feels working together towards a common cause.

Listening is Giving

Everyone knows the best example is action not words. Sometimes you give more by listening to others’ ideas rather than telling them yours. Listening validates what others say and gives them the confidence to participate more. And don’t just listen, Think about what they say and say it back so they know you understand and care.

Listening  builds trust and also makes others feel important. It is a gift to the person who’s talking and to the group. When you feel like interrupting because the other person is off track, bite your tongue. Keep your criticism to yourself until they finish then show you see their point of view. Then suggest or ask for other opinions.

Can You Give Well-Being to Others?

Because well-being is a term that’s hard to nail down, it’s difficult to say whether you can give it to someone. But think of it this way.  If what you do improves someone’s self-esteem or a group’s appreciation of that person’s skills, and they feel more optimistic and confident as a result, that’s a gift, right?  For those who are especially uncomfortable, try these three things.

1. Make an effort to include them in a team collaboration.
2. Show you care about their point of view and ideas.
3. Help them in areas where you have experience and they don’t.

More specifically:

1. Instead of just emailing reports back and forth to one another, suggest an after-work drink to discuss the various parts of the assignment. When people discover how their parts fit together with the whole, they’ll be more motivated to up their give.
2. When a project first starts, suggest a brainstorming session without any barriers. Together in a room, have everyone throw out ideas with someone keeping track. Encourage them by saying there are no wrong or right ideas; and even if these ideas don’t work now, they might in the future. This helps the shy members in particular because everyone gets a chance to give.
3. Count the good things. When everything seems to be falling apart, list all the good things the group has accomplished so far. Even small things like “we know each other a lot better,” or “this experience will make us better prepared for the next assignment” are positives.

You have the Power.

By bringing people together on the job, you’ll experience how well-being is increased. And of course, your own well-being will soar as well. Most people appreciate this and you can help make it happen for your colleagues. Challenge them and yourself  by joining the 365give Challenge at www.365give.ca  .

One give a day makes a better, happier you and a better, happier world.