WELL WORKING - OBSERVE No. 14 The Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine
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OBSERVE
The Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine_
odgersberndtson.com
No. 14
Issue 02 2018
WELL
WORKING A special issue on wellbeing at work
For more than 50 years, Our special thanks to the following
Odgers Berndtson has Odgers Berndtson contributors
helped some of the to this issue:
world’s biggest and best Leon Ayo, Johannesburg, South Africa
organisations find their Eric Beaudan, Toronto, Canada
senior talent.
Kenny Chen, Singapore
We do so by forming Jacqueline Foley, Toronto, Canada
strong relationships Adam Gates, Odgers Connect, London
with the most talented Mark Houghton, Dubai, UAE
people, with those
John Jakenfelds, London, UK
seeking them and
between our own teams Stuart Morton, London, UK
globally to bring both Julie Steiner, Sydney, Australia
sides together. It is Elizabeth Stewart, London, UK
because of our deep,
non-transactional and
lasting partnerships that
our clients can acquire,
develop and retain their
strongest leaders.
We deliver executive
search and leadership
services to businesses
and organisations
varying in size, structure
and maturity. We do
that across more than
50 sectors, be it
commercial, public or
not-for-profit, and can
draw on the experience
of more than 250
Partners and their
teams in 29 countries.
odgersberndtson.com
Join the conversation at:
@odgersberndtson
#obobserve
Linked Odgers Berndtson
OBSERVE
The Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine_
odgersberndtson.com
No. 14
Issue 02 2018
INSIDE:
Resilience
Happiness
Diversity
Mindfulness
Diabetes crisis
Neuroscience
and much more
Contents
The roots of wellness 6 Under observation
are ancient, its
Well working stories worldwide
corporate history a
much more recent one. 7 Apps and tech
Clearly, the ideas and Seven ways to help your wellbeing
practices of wellness
in the workplace have 8 Mindfulness in mind
exploded globally, Should you believe all the hype?
alongside a flurry of It depends on the research you read
digital technology.
But does well
10 The social question
working, as we’ve called it, merit all the Well working and social media:
attention it’s getting? new analysis from Shareablee
We’re devoting this edition of Observe
12 Changing attitudes
to answering that question in an in-depth
Companies around the world with
examination that goes beyond the hype
a radical approach to well working
and headlines.
We ask whether well working is merely a 16 The power of resilience
sticking plaster on badly managed businesses Resilient CEOs make all the difference
desperate to adapt to relentless change, or an
opportunity for a genuine competitive edge in 20 Happiness
a world where the line between life and work Don’t worry, be happy!
is increasingly blurred.
Our well working debate ranges far and
24 Turn off, switch on
wide. Among other things, it takes in buildings The benefits of a digital detox
built for happiness, the macro forces of ill health 28 The invisible epidemics
threatening workforces, stress and personal
An in-depth look at the growing diabetes
resilience, the hard facts behind the mindfulness
and dementia crises worldwide
craze, the ups and downs of independent
working, the best apps to aid well working, 34 Diverse opinions
and understanding how your brain works. Multi-ethnic boards are in short supply
We hope you’ll enjoy the debate and our
conclusions, and find some useful advice and 38 State of independence
tips along the way. How to work well when you’re going it alone
In short, we hope ‘well working’ works for you.
42 Happy buildings
Mark Houghton Why the design of your building can
Managing Partner, make all the difference to well working
Odgers Berndtson Middle East
46 Neuroscience
Latest developments, plus some practical
advice for boosting your brain
50 Singapore swing
How Singapore is turning to wellbeing to
@odgersberndtson OBSERVE combat diabetes and poor diet
#obobserve
The Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine_ No. 14
Issue 02 2018
odgersberndtson.com
54 A sense of being
Self-aware leaders can transform organisations
Observe
To read any of the great
WELL 58 Turning over a new leaf
content featured in Observe
over the past three years, WORKING A special issue on wellbeing at work
The power of plants and nature in the
go to odgersberndtson.com workplace to aid well working
and click on the ‘Insights’ tab
@odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 5
Under observation Tech
91% 1 4 5
against elite athletes from around
Stories and of workers
at companies
the world in the annual, four-day
Skagen Hybrid. A smart Pacifica says it is the Muse is a brain sensing
statistics that that support
CrossFit Games held last summer in
Wisconsin, USA. The games are truly alternative to the ubiquitous “number one app to headband that helps you
look at global wellbeing efforts say
they feel motivated to
arduous. Athletes run, bike, swim,
lift weights, do calisthenics, climb
Fitbit or Apple Watch,
Skagen’s Signatur Connected
help deal with
stress, anxiety and depression
get the most out of
meditation practice. Put on the
wellbeing and do their best. (Source: American ladders, and compete in other shows
of strength like handstand push-ups.
hybrid smart watch is a stylish alongside a supportive headset and complete breathing
well working Psychological Assocation)
How many CEOs reading this can
match McKinnon’s efforts?
item of wrist wear that tracks
basic activities automatically,
community” and is based on
cognitive behavioural therapy
exercises to the sound of waves
(neutral), storms (bad) and
and synchronises with your and mindfulness meditation. tweeting birds (good) each
61%
iOS or Android smartphone. thinkpacifica.com or via the indicating how focused you are.
skagen.com App Store Available via the App Store
+ 6 in10 2 6
of employees agree that 7 Cups is an on-demand focus@will is a music
they’ve made healthier emotional health and service that claims to
lifestyle choices because of wellbeing service. be able to pinpoint your
their company’s wellness Anyone who wants to talk personality type through two
has taken an innovative approach
Canadians believe “their to getting its employees fit. Every
programme. about whatever is on test questions from which it will
employer has some Friday they are asked to leave their
(Source: Aflec)
their mind can quickly then offer you the appropriate
responsibility in ensuring desks at the company’s Stockholm reach out to a trained, music genre to improve your
their good health”. headquarters to have their weekly compassionate focus. Based on its survey of
(Source: Buffett National Wellness Survey) workout at a nearby gym. listener through the 22,000 active users, focus time
For more than two years the
7 Cups global network. increased four-fold, thus
company founded by the Swedish
Books tennis legend has made on-the-job It has hundreds of optimising productivity.
exercise mandatory at the initiative listeners who come focusatwill.com
The Growth Delusion: of chief executive Henrik Bunge. from all walks of life
7
Wealth, Poverty and “If you don’t want to exercise or be and have diverse
the Well-Being of a part of the company culture, you experiences. Life Analytics
Nations have to go,” says Bunge. So far no
by David Pilling, published by 7cups.com or is a handy app
one has felt the need to leave Ergonomics
Bloomsbury, £20/$26/€21 because of the fitness regime. via the App Store that “visualises
Please be seated your daily life” and
3
Writing in Foreign
80%
Affairs magazine, If you are prepared to spend automatically analyses
reviewer Richard between $1,500 and $2,500 Spire claims to how you spend your
N. Cooper rightly (€1,377 to €2,298; £1,190 to £1,990) be “the world’s time based on location
pointed out that you can avail yourself of one of the
only breath data. It uses graphs
“growth often of employees in pet-friendly world’s most expensive office chairs.
and activity tracker arranged by categories
becomes a fetish workplaces say having pets The Xten, a collaboration between
proven to decrease for home, work and
for politicians and iconic Italian design firm Pininfarina
policymakers, who
nearby while they work and furnishings pioneers Ares Line stress and increase leisure. Because
have given it priority over many
makes them feel “happy, was developed in 2008 at a cost productivity”. most people’s actions are
other aspects of national wellbeing. relaxed and sociable”. of $1.5m and looks as good today It measures your linked with locations like
This informative and sometimes (Source: Purina) as it did at the outset. Made from breathing patterns where they work, live and
humorous book serves as a useful Technogel, a customised
to determine your shop, Life Analytics analyses
antidote to that myopia.” And how polyurethane material, and Dynatec,
Fitness state of mind and your daily life based on that
timely it is. “When it comes to the a fabric designed for Olympic
economy,” Pilling argues, “officials athletes, it’s the ultimate in well help achieve calm. location data.
Mr Muscle
spire.io or via Available via
ALAMY
and leaders should pay a little more working (or well sitting).
Not some bulging
attention to quality and a little less XtenChair.com the App Store the App Store
wrestler type,
to quantity.” (See our feature on
Todd McKinnon
78%
Just do it!
national happiness on p20.)
ALAMY/SHUTTERSTOCK/REX
is co-founder and of businesses
CEO of Okta, a
Health publicly traded
say employee A range of apps
wellbeing is
Working out for
identity management company
based in San Francisco and valued a critical part of their and other tech to
well working at $2 billion. Last year he became business plans. help you improve
Swedish fashion and sports retailer the world’s 14th fittest man in the (Source: Virgin Pulse)
Björn Borg (yes, that Björn Borg) 45 to 49 age group after competing your well working
6 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 7
Mindfulness
It was Kabat-Zinn who came up employee number 1072, software systems proves it’s more than
with “mindfulness-based stress engineer Chade-Meng Tan”. Back just a fad. According to a paper
reduction” as a way to deal with in 2007, Tan launched ‘Search published in 2017 by the UK
conditions that were seen as Inside Yourself’, a seven-week Mindfulness All-Party
otherwise difficult to treat. “By mindfulness meditation course Parliamentary Group, “a culture
Is deploying the early 2000s,” adds Statka,
“the concept of mindfulness had
for Google employees. “At first,
his colleagues were reluctant,”
of mindfulness in the workplace
could certainly be a step in the
mindfulness in the ballooned in popularity.” said the Wired report. “They right direction to improve
workplace really And as the world gets questioned what, if anything, employee wellbeing. The
tougher, more stressful, more a mystical, new-age, candlelit, potential benefits of practising
beneficial or is it, as connected and more manic, deep-chanting practice could mindfulness at work exercises
some argue, fraught anything that helps calm us do for them. But it wasn’t long could include improved
down must be good, right? before Tan’s colleagues learned resilience, fewer absences due
with conflicting that a mindfulness practice that to sickness, the cultivation of
evidence? Trials and tribulations helps you to be truly present positive workplace relationships
Nevertheless, the critics still with yourself and others had and better collaboration
persisted. American Psychologist the power to change the way between colleagues …
reported that only around nine they worked and lived. Soon, mindfulness is a technique that’s
per cent of research into Googlers who went through even recommended by the UK’s
mindfulness-based interventions Tan’s class were raving about National Health Service to
The
had been tested in clinical trials its benefits. They felt calmer, improve mental wellbeing.”
that included a control group. clear-headed and more focused.” Jacqueline Foley, Chief
The journal went on to say that Marketing Officer at Odgers
multiple large placebo-controlled The ultimate tool Berndtson Canada, agrees:
mindfulness
meta-analyses concluded that Similar beneficial experiences “Today’s leaders are facing
mindfulness practices have often have been recorded by numerous unprecedented change,” she
produced unimpressive results. aficionados from organisations says. “They are often stressed
A 2014 review of 47 meditation both big and small. For example, and distracted, making it difficult
trials, collectively including more Nike’s ‘Headspace’ app is, to focus and be in the moment
than 3,500 participants, found according to Andy Puddicombe, with others. I think mindfulness
debate
no evidence for benefits related Headspace co-founder, “the enables you to be more
I
to enhancing attention, curtailing ultimate tool for any athlete at compassionate, because you are
substance abuse, aiding sleep any level. It [mindfulness] can taking the time to listen to and
f, as some major global or controlling weight. help strengthen motivation, check in with people. Then in
organisations argue, Counter those findings with increase focus, improve resilience, turn people feel more heard,
mindfulness has had a the seemingly inexorable rise enhance form, optimise recovery and they feel more respected.”
profound and positive effect of mindfulness use in the and, perhaps most important of The general conclusion is that
on their employees – from argued: “Many psychologists, often void of a control group workplace and it seems that all, get us out of our head and yes, mindfulness can be a useful
boardroom to shop floor – neuroscientists and meditation to rule out the placebo effect.” some organisations are carrying into the body for an enjoyable leadership tool (even if the
then why isn’t every business experts are afraid that hype So far as its provenance goes, on regardless, whatever the and fulfilling training session.” scientists are still debating) – for
using it? [about mindfulness] is outpacing most scientists, practitioners formal science concludes. Not all the respected scientific people who are first trained by
The answer is more complex the science. In an article in and users do agree that Mindfulness meditation is journals are in the ‘inconclusive’ a properly qualified practitioner
than you might think. Much of Perspectives on Psychological mindfulness is rooted in being deployed as part of camp. According to a 2011 study and then do it as a daily practice.
the debate focuses on the Science, 15 prominent Buddhist thought and theory; employee development in a published in the Journal of “You make the time and fit it into
existing – and often very robust psychologists and cognitive that it was later taken up in number of high-profile Fortune Neuroscience, just four days of your schedule,” Foley concludes.
– evidence that has been scientists caution that despite the 1970s by Professor Jon 500 companies, including such mindfulness meditation halved “For me, honestly, it’s been
conducted over recent years its popularity and supposed Kabat-Zinn at the University behemoths as Google, Apple pain perception in participants transformational.I am calmer
into whether or not mindfulness benefits, scientific data on of Massachusetts; and that and Nike. This is good news for compared to those who did not and more thoughtful which I
really works. And much of that mindfulness is woefully lacking. Kabat-Zinn, a cognitive scientist those involved in the US$1.1bn practise it. It presents compelling believe makes me a better
evidence is, well, inconclusive. Many of the studies on who founded the university’s mindfulness and meditation evidence for meditation’s ability colleague and team leader. It’s a
mindfulness and meditation, Stress Reduction Clinic and the industry, which in turn makes up to improve the quality of life for practice anyone can take on and
SHUTTERSTOCK
Believe the hype? the authors wrote, are poorly Center for Mindfulness in 7.4 per cent of the overall $15.1bn those suffering from pain. benefit from, and I think that is
Writing in the October 2017 designed – compromised by Medicine, was advocating its alternative care market in the US. Perhaps the fact that even why it has really taken off. I’m
edition of the renowned journal inconsistent definitions of what astounding efficacy in dealing Just last year, Wired reported some governments have adopted just sorry it took me so long to
Scientific American, Brett Statka mindfulness actually is, and with a number of problems. on the experiences of “Google mindfulness within their health finally do it.” ■
8 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 9
Happiness Sleep and
as a key toworkplace
Insight a business’
success
wellbeing Design and Insight
Happiest architecture in
Workplace cities to the workplace
work in
Well working conversations on have available for their employees.
Deutsche Bank’s posts spoke about
analysed in the Shareablee
study. In particular, two posts
culture
4% 3%
success, with more than
66 per cent of total ‘Actions’
SHARE OF ENGAGEMENT BY THEME
social media abound, as research relieving negative stigma around on workplace wellbeing made 4%
4%
arising from posts with either
by Shareablee demonstrates mental health and the services it up seven per cent of total 5%
or both. Shareablee analysis
provides to combat the issue. engagement and achieved 49% found that posts that included
W
8% Management’s
Meanwhile, SAP (via its ‘Life at SAP’ 40 times more engagement active role in a photo or included a link had
Mental
page) hosted TEDx speaker and than Marriott Careers’ average health workplace the most engagement, with most
wellbeing
hen Virgin CEO The sample included brands, workplace happiness expert Holly post engagement. 23% posts linking to a company’s
Sir Richard publishers (publishing houses Landau at an internal event. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Work/life website for a full article.
balance
Branson posted and news organisations such as The private sector leads the US-based organisations lead Ultimately, work-life balance
from his own social media The New York Times, Forbes and wellbeing in the workplace the conversation with a 59 per posts sparked the most
account to promote his the Harvard Business Review) conversation, with 71 per cent of cent share of total engagement. conversation or were the most-
company’s Extended Shared and public institutions such as total engagement on the subject. The UK followed with 17 per commented posts, with 22 per
Parental Leave policy in 2015, Public Health England (which Shareablee analysed the top- cent of total engagement, cent of all post comments.
it became the most shared posted about sleep deprivation performing posts on the subject then Swiss-based businesses Physical activity such as doing
POSTS BY PLATFORM
post on Facebook on the topic. and work performance), the and found that the most engaging with 13 per cent and Australian 36% more exercise also trended high
Branson’s use of social media Cleveland Clinic and the World posts featured an organisation’s pages ranking at 10 per cent. Facebook on social media. The Luxottica
57%
to promote his sprawling Health Organisation (which senior management taking an Twitter Group (a leader in the design,
organisation’s well working posted tips to promote ways active role in promoting wellbeing Action and reaction manufacture and distribution
practices is just one high-profile to combat mental health issues – and specifically happiness – in Where companies are posting 7% of luxury eyewear) took to
example of the way in which at work). the workplace. CEOs, take note. on ‘workplace’, wellbeing had Instagram Facebook touting its investment
social media is being used to Prominent organisations such Marriott Careers’ Facebook page, an impact as well. While in promoting physical activity
great effect to discuss this as Deutsche Bank, GSK and featuring its ‘Wunderlust’ podcast Twitter saw the most posts for its employees and offering
increasingly important topic. SAP use their social media series and including interviews with on the topic, Facebook posts healthy meal options in its
5%
It also enabled Virgin to pages to talk about their own its Chief Human Resources Officer had the most engagement Twitter cafeteria, while Deloitte used
12%
ENGAGEMENT BY PLATFORM
spread the well working word initiatives to promote well David Rodriguez, had the most with 82 per cent of total Instagram Instagram in 2016 to showcase
to global followers and working and the resources they engagement of the 2,250 posts engagement occurring on its new Toronto offices with
employees quickly, effectively that platform. Photos and dedicated spaces for mental
and with high engagement link posts had the most and physical health.
(e.g. likes, shares, reactions 83% Global furniture designers
and comments). Facebook Steelcase and Knoll also used
Apart from Branson’s very social media to talk about the
specific post, what does social important role furniture
media as a whole have to say ergonomics and office design
about wellbeing and well play in an employee’s satisfaction
working? Quite a lot, according ABOUT SHAREABLEE and overall happiness in the
to data compiled by social Launched in 2013, Shareablee workplace. The designers had
media analytics firm Shareablee. empowers brands by providing the most success on Instagram
data that can help them define
and drive success on social using stylised images that feature
Social analytics media by arming them with well on the platform.
Shareablee analysed more than metrics and predictive analytics This is just a snapshot of the
that inform powerful best
900 organisations who posted practices. It is the leading dynamic social media activity
on the topic between January 1, authority on audience being undertaken by companies
2015 and March 31, 2018. intelligence, competitive promoting their well working
A social
benchmarking and actionable
insights across the social web, credentials. With more than
measuring more than 500,000 73 billion engagements on
global properties across all Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
major social platforms every
day. It helps marketers quantify in 2017 in the USA alone, why
the value of their audiences would companies not want to
experie nce
by providing insights and take to social media to extol the
data-driven assessments
about how consumers are
virtues of their well working
engaging with their brands activities and better connect
and competitors on Facebook, with their employees? ■
Twitter, Instagram, Google+,
ALAMY
Tumblr and YouTube.
shareablee.com
10 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 11
Well working leaders
The
breakers
rule
Globally, corporate wellbeing is a $40bn
industry. From unlimited vacations and
sabbaticals, through growing organic
vegetables and astronomical personal
budgets for the workplace, Observe
highlights 11 companies offering a
unique approach to well working
Asana Zappos Google as well as the PiLab – or local communities for four employee assistance
Well working is at the forefront At Zappos, decentralised Arguably an obvious choice, People & Innovative Lab hours per month. programme offers education
at this San Francisco-based organisation reigns. Their but as a pioneer of innovative – which researches and It is, says Mark Levy Airbnb’s on matters such as stopping
software company established model removes the typical employee well working initiatives develops new techniques for former Global Head of smoking, weight and overall
by Facebook co-founder Dustin corporate command-and- Google is worthy of inclusion. employees’ wellbeing. Employee Experience, about fitness, gym and exercise
Moskovitz and software engineer control structure, instead Its ‘Optimise Your Life’ “creating memorable workplace classes and spousal
Justin Rosenstein, both of whom replacing it with one in programme focuses on Airbnb experiences that span all healthcare. Workers are
were involved with improving which everyone becomes improving “self-actualisation and Airbnb’s ‘workplace as an aspects of how we relate to also offered healthy eating
employee productivity at the a leader in their own role. self-fulfilment” through three experience’ vision is built on employees, including how we initiatives, as well as on-site
social media giant. Despite trading in sports pillars: emotional health, physical creating memorable workplace recruit them, develop them … grocery and personal care
Alongside wellbeing ‘must footwear, Zappos foregoes health and financial health. experiences and a true sense of the type of volunteer services, a host of extensive
haves’ like daily yoga, gym the more clichéd gym classes In practice, this includes, belonging for every employee. experiences we offer them, and mentor programmes and
memberships, mentoring and fitness regimes when it among other things, life A ‘belong anywhere’ the food we share together”. [1] learning opportunities.
programmes focused on comes to well working. Rather, coaching, deep sleep sessions, environment encourages staff
learning and health, executive the company champions brain training, flexible hours to create their own workspaces, Microsoft Rodale Inc.
coaching and unlimited holiday, ‘Wellness Adventures’ in and vacations, support groups while each employee has his From an annual wellbeing The international publisher,
Asana even gives each new which employees take part in and ‘recharge pods’. or her own webpage on a week for all staff to the known for its Women’s Health
starter a $10,000 budget to regular group activities off-site, Google’s Campus hosts dedicated intranet, from which ‘Microsoft Living Wellness and Men’s Health titles,
create his or her own unique ‘Recess Tuesdays’ in which physicians, chiropractors, they communicate and interact Health Center’, Microsoft views somewhat unsurprisingly
ALAMY/IKON
workspace. Motorised desks that playground toys are distributed, healthcare professionals, socially with others in the employee health as essential practises what it preaches.
allow an employee to sit or stand and ‘Energy Pods’ available for fitness centres and classrooms business. Employees are also for well working. Employees are provided with
are the most popular choice. employees to take naps in. for extra-curricular activities, encouraged to volunteer with The Microsoft CARES on-site fitness facilities and ➝
12 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 13
Well working leaders
classes, but the emphasis is free doctor’s appointments fitness classes, ergonomic
very much on the outdoors. and a six-month ‘Your Way environment options,
A dedicated outdoor running/ to Wellness’ programme. massage and therapy
walking trail encourages time It works, too – the company sessions, extensive wellness
out in its headquarters’ reportedly has a staff turnover programmes and more.
surrounding woodland, and a rate of less than four per cent.
garden area lets employees According to Vice President and Netflix
relax by growing their own Chief Human Resources Officer Granted, the idea of motivating
vegetables and organic produce. Jenn Mann: “It’s critical for us your employees to work by
Focused on mental, to provide a workplace that telling them they don’t have to
emotional and professional incentivises great talent. This can seem odd. But it’s through
development, Rodale also allows them to be motivated, being unencumbered by
provides wellness days, creative and innovative.” [2] policies and rules that Netflix
meditation facilities, private encourages its employees’
Unilever
Responsible
nursing rooms and seminars. wellbeing, fulfilment at work
The global consumer goods and creative spirit.
BP Canada
people thrive
brand delivers employee The company’s holiday
Wearable tech from Fitbit is wellbeing and health via policy, now being more
on freedom
at the heart of BP Canada’s dedicated wellness areas. widely adopted elsewhere,
wellbeing initiative. The Its ‘Wellbeing Zone’ features is that there is no policy.
company’s ‘Elements for four sub-zones focused on Employees are free to take
Life’ programme uses the individual health aspects. as much, or indeed as little,
technology to gather a The ‘Movement Zone’ holiday as they wish and
detailed overview of employee includes yoga, stretching whenever they wish. The only
wellbeing to ensure a healthy exercises and massage, while stipulations to this ‘formal’ plan
work-life balance. the ‘Connection Bridge’ are that work must be covered
Four key factors drive encourages employees to take and managers must know
‘Elements for Life’: physical, a break and communicate with where employees are. ■
emotional, financial and social each other. A ‘Refreshment
1. https://bit.ly/2Grxssk
health. The innovative points- Centre’ offers healthy meals
2. https://bit.ly/2GtQ7np
based system encourages free of charge, and a dedicated
employees to take part in ‘Silent Zone’ promotes
activities from which they meditation and rest during
earn points and are then the working day.
rewarded via online tools
that monitor professional Deloitte
and personal progress. The global consultancy uses
a leader-driven, holistic
SAS ‘Wellness Strategy’ that focuses
A regular on various lists of not only on its employees’
‘best companies to work for’, professional wellbeing but
SAS has nurtured a positive also their personal health.
work-life balance since its Leaders must recognise and
inception. The company, which reinforce a healthy, balanced
has been named as a best place and safe working environment
to work for millennials, working across three key tiers: mind,
and single parents, offers a body and purpose. It is, says
wellness initiative from its Deloitte, only through carefully
Recreation and Fitness Center. balancing these three
This includes a multitude of elements that employees
exercise and fitness classes, can realise their
health-conscious eateries, full potential in
on-site childcare, educational the workplace.
courses and an on-site Workers are
healthcare programme including offered gym and
14 OBSERVE 2/18Leadership Leadership
To survive and thrive in the senior leadership arena,
you need resilience to enable you to combat the
myriad challenges faced every day. keiron pim reports
C
ompeting to work his psychiatrist devised, which “Resilience is the ability to
the longest hours, will include mindfulness, manage a sprint as well as a
struggling on through psychological testing and marathon,” says Elizabeth Stewart,
illness, toughing it out nutrition analysis. This comes Odgers Berndtson’s Head of
when chronic stress takes its toll within a growing corporate Executive Assessment and
– for many executives, life in the awareness that trying to be Development in London. For
boardroom has more often than Superman is not the best option Jacqueline Carter, Partner and
not been a case of survival of either for an individual or their Director, North America of the
the fittest. But what is changing business, and that leaders need Potential Project, a global leader
is our understanding of how to a more effective toolkit to in providing mindfulness-based
keep physically and mentally fit handle their challenges. In a organisational effectiveness
for life at the top. word, they need resilience. programmes, “a simple definition
The question of how leaders is the capacity to recover quickly
can withstand extreme pressure Publicising problems from difficulties”, and it’s “a mental
came to the fore last year when, Horta-Osório is not alone. quality that can be trained through
in the UK, Lloyds Banking Although other high-profile practising mindfulness”.
Group’s CEO António Horta- leaders publicly acknowledging
Osório revealed that anxiety their mental health problems Duty of care
and insomnia “almost broke are few and far between, there For Rob Stephenson, whose social
[him]” while he led the have been some notable cases. enterprise Inside Out aims to change
company’s turnaround from The Australian billionaire James corporate culture by encouraging
being partly Government- Packer, director of casino executives to discuss their mental
owned into a private bank again. operator Crown Resorts and son wellbeing, “resilience is all about
Within months of starting the job of the late media mogul Kerry the ability to respond to adversity
in 2011, he said, he had a spell in Packer, stood down from his or difficult situations, and there’s a
a clinic to avert a breakdown. role in March of this year for strong element of flexibility … I think
“I thought I was Superman,” personal reasons believed to be it’s misconstrued that resilience
he told The Times. “I felt I could depression and anxiety, which means strength or toughness.”
do everything. Before this, I had he is known to have experienced A City of London tax and finance
thought that the less sleep and during the past two decades. expert, Stephenson co-founded
the more work, the better. It In 2017 Ton Büchner quit as Inside Out in response to his
showed me I was not Superman.” CEO of Dutch manufacturer experience of coping with bipolar
Now Horta-Osório plans to AkzoNobel, which owns Dulux, disorder in a corporate environment.
put 200 of his executives because of health reasons “I think corporates are realising
through a programme he and relating to stress. they have a duty of care to help ➝Leadership
individuals manage their mental culture of resilience within resilient,” she says. She suggests Health Organisation has named
wellbeing, regardless of where the business. He identifies two doing so by building a ‘growth stress the “health epidemic of the
issue may have arisen,” he says. further factors: physical and mindset’ whereby executives 21st century”, and it is estimated
“Businesses are starting to psychological fitness. “practise approaching each to cost American businesses up to
understand it’s not just workplace “The first piece of resilience situation from the perspective $300bn a year. Her London-based
stress they need to be supporting is moving your body,” says May. that it’s not going to be about colleague Louise Chester adds:
employees on.” “Get 10,000 steps today. This is their performance, but about “We are seeing tangible evidence
Another aspect of corporate life not for fitness, it’s for how they can learn – that having from our work with a large number
that is ripe for change is the culture mitochondria – little powerhouse all the answers is both not of leading companies who are
of ‘presenteeism’, when employees energy cells. That wakes the possible and not helpful in taking this issue very seriously and
turn up for work despite being body up and gets the system generating new ideas. placing both focus and significant
unwell, whether physically or working properly.” On top of “Equally important to building budget in this area.
mentally. A Deloitte report from that, ensure you do at least resilience is building what we “In London, for instance, we
October 2017 titled Mental Health three to four hours’ physical call ‘capacity’ to lead,” Gunn facilitate an ongoing peer-to-peer
and Employers: the Case for activity a week to increase VO2 continues, “giving yourself forum for leaders from 30 or so
Investment cites this as the greatest max, your body’s maximum rate recovery time so you can of our global clients to explore
cost to the UK economy – costing an of oxygen consumption, “which recharge and focus your energy. why resilience is a vital business
estimated £17bn-£26bn compared also increases our ability to The science shows that being imperative and a leadership
with absence costs of around £8bn switch between stress and in a constant state of stress responsibility, and to confidentially
– so tackling it would be a win-win recovery. Movement gives you reduces our ability to engage share challenges and solutions.
situation for the business and the energy, and physical activity in creative or lateral thinking, “We are also currently working
individual. The report also notes helps us regulate emotion.” and make effective decisions. one-to-one with a number of
that businesses that intervene to Good nutrition is also Being low on energy can also CEOs and C-suite teams who
address employees’ mental health, essential: ensure your sugar lead to poor self-regulation acknowledge that the resilience
whether through individual therapy consumption is moderate, eat and increased reactivity. of their organisation’s people
sessions or group workshops to regular meals including protein, “We all know the feeling of is a vital contributor to the
build resilience, see an average “which has dopamine to fuel the being worn out and the ‘short sustainable financial wellbeing
return on investment of 4.2 to 1. body”, and plenty of fresh fruit fuse’ that creates for us. Our of the organisations they lead.
“That’s really where businesses and vegetables, he says. ability to be resilient, and to They realise that resilience starts
can make a difference,” Stephenson Secondly there’s psychological bounce back when something with the leaders themselves, with
says. “It’s one of the rare cases fitness. Instead of being rigid and inevitably doesn’t work out as their own behaviour and the
where the moral case of it being beholden to a ‘fixed mindset’, we planned, depends on having culture they create.” ■
the right thing to do, and the try to develop flexibility in your the reserves that help us to be
business case of it being good for thinking. “With thinking skills, reflective and learn from a
productivity and the workforce, 50 per cent is genetic, 40 per failure, rather than reacting and REFERENCES
are aligned.” cent is trainable and 10 per cent blaming ourselves or others.” • Deloitte report – compiled to
is lifestyle,” May believes. Meanwhile the Potential support the UK Government’s
Independent Review of Mental
Keep in condition Training thinking skills to Project’s Jacqueline Carter Health and Employers:
Going hand in hand with this is the become more flexible helps says there’s still much to be https://bit.ly/2yMfnD7
individual executive’s obligation to leaders adapt to changing done at a corporate level.
• KPMG Australia’s Performance
develop resilience by keeping in circumstances and thus become “In our experience, too many Clinic on resilience:
optimum condition for work. So more resilient in trying times. organisations are not addressing https://bit.ly/2k9twnj
how should they do this? Above the root causes of a lack of
• Inside Out: inside-out.org
all else Stephenson recommends Business buy-in resilience: busy, overworked,
prioritising a good night’s sleep, His KPMG Australia colleague overloaded minds. Although • The Potential Project is a global
which boosts our ability to make Dr Jane Gunn, a Partner in the there are many great leader in providing customised,
organisational effectiveness
decisions and cope with stress. Too Management Consulting programmes to enhance programmes based on
little sleep negatively affects this. division in Canberra, notes that resilience, too many of them mindfulness. Its mission is
Be disciplined about your bedtime businesses there are addressing provide information and to enhance individual and
company performance,
and avoid screens and social media the issue – “from mining guidance on what to do, but fall resilience and creativity. It has
late at night, he advises, to help companies through to our short on the ‘how?’, which in our brought mindfulness training
your body naturally wind down. public sector organisations, view requires training the mind to 100,000 individuals in more
than 500 companies across
In Australia, Andrew May of businesses are starting to see to change how we process the the world.
KPMG’s Performance Clinic is the value in ensuring that their difficulties we experience.” potentialproject.com
leading the charge to build a leaders and their workforces are She adds that the World
odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 19Happiness Happiness
Don ’t W hen we talk about
happiness, I don’t
refer to pleasures or
momentary feelings. It’s the authentic,
long-term happiness.” So said Ohood
bint Al Roumi, the Minister of State for
Happiness and Wellbeing in the United
The UN urged
members to measure
happiness and wellbeing
Arab Emirates, who took up the newly
created role in 2016.
Minister for Happiness? Yup. It really
worry,
exists. Add in that this is happening in
the Middle East and the role is
performed by a woman, and it is clear
that happiness is increasingly becoming
a key measure of social progress. For Clarke, the head of the UN Development
many nations, happiness is the Program, spoke against what she called
overarching goal of public policy. the “tyranny of GDP”, arguing that what
matters is the quality of growth.
More than a feeling
Some countries, like the tiny kingdom The happiness journey
of Bhutan, have long advocated Ms Roumi’s role in the UAE continues
treating happiness as much more this global trend. Her aim is nothing
than just an unconnected personal less than to create ‘The Happiness
sensation. It coined the phrase Journey’ by focusing on five main
Can you work well if you aren’t ‘happy’? ‘gross national happiness’ as themes: mind wellbeing, physical
far back as 1972 when the 4th wellbeing, emotional wellbeing,
Ultimately, it depends on how you define King of Bhutan, King Jigme gastronomy and arts. By
‘happiness’. And it isn’t just about how much Singye Wangchuck, declared: deploying interactive, multi-
“Gross National Happiness is sensory and motivational
money you have. jonathan arnold reports more important than Gross sessions, cognitive experiences
Domestic Product.” and workshops, Roumi hopes to
In 2011, The UN General Assembly give participants the “opportunity
passed Resolution 65/309 ‘Happiness: to understand the nature of these
towards a holistic approach to relationships and their direct impact
development’, which states that on their own happiness and wellbeing”.
be
happiness is “a fundamental human Interestingly, Ms Roumi’s quest for
goal and universal aspiration; that GDP happiness targets all segments of
by its nature does not reflect that goal; society, providing information and
that unsustainable patterns of experiences in a simple and practical
production and consumption impede manner that contributes to the
sustainable development; and that a government’s goal of establishing
more inclusive, equitable and balanced happiness and positivity as a lifestyle
approach is needed to promote and cultural trait in the UAE.
sustainability, eradicate poverty, and This move towards developing
enhance wellbeing and happiness”. national happiness is just one part of
The UN urged member nations to a growing global quest to understand
follow the example of Bhutan and exactly what happiness means in our
measure happiness and wellbeing. fragmented, dangerous, always-on lives
happy!
Two years ago the Organisation and the crucial role it plays.
for Economic Co-operation and But what is happiness? Is it about a
Development (OECD) committed itself transitory state of mind – today I feel
“to redefine the growth narrative to put happy? Is it something that only applies
people’s wellbeing at the centre of to wealthy Western societies who have
governments’ efforts”, while Helen the time and luxury to think about their ➝
20 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 21Happiness
happiness status rather than simply Meanwhile, the latest edition
worrying about getting enough to of the annual World Happiness
eat? Is it about how much money you Report (produced by the
have? Or is it something so complex Sustainable Development
and so bound up with our physical Solutions Network for the
and mental wellbeing that it’s too United Nations) ranks 156
big a question to ever answer? countries across six factors
including GDP, life expectancy,
The origins of happiness social support, generosity,
In a new book called The Origins of freedom and corruption. In its
Happiness [2018] the authors – all chapter on ‘Happiness at Work’
academics – seek to answer some of the report states: “Work-life balance
the ‘big’ questions about happiness. emerges as a particularly strong predictor
Drawing on a uniquely comprehensive of people’s happiness. Further factors
range of evidence from longitudinal include job variety and the need to learn
data on more than 100,000 individuals new things, as well the level of individual
in Britain, the US, Australia and autonomy enjoyed by the employee.
Germany, the book considers the key Moreover, job security and social capital
factors that affect human wellbeing. (as measured through the support one
Contrary to received wisdom, the receives from fellow workers) are also
authors declare, income inequality positively correlated with happiness,
accounts for only two per cent or less while jobs that involve risks to health
of the variance in happiness across the and safety are generally associated with
population; the critical factors affecting lower levels of subjective wellbeing.”
a person’s happiness are their
relationships and their mental and Which are the happiest nations?
physical health. More people are in Unsurprisingly, Scandinavian countries
misery due to mental illness than to rank highest, with Finland top of the list,
poverty, unemployment or physical and Norway second followed by Denmark,
illness. Examining how childhood Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands,
influences happiness in adulthood, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and
the authors show that academic Australia. Well outside of the top 10,
performance is a less important the US ranked 18th, while the UK was
predictor than emotional health one place behind in 19th position.
and behaviour, which is shaped The world’s least happy country is
tremendously by schools, individual Burundi, followed by Central African
teachers and parents. For policymakers, Republic, South Sudan and Tanzania.
the authors propose new forms of Poverty, civil wars and general
cost-effectiveness analysis that place instability afflict many of
wellbeing at centre stage. these poorer countries
so it’s hardly surprising
that they rank so low.
But it isn’t only
developing world
countries that
Income inequality accounts struggle. The UK
doesn’t have a
for only two per cent of the Minister for Happiness.
Instead it recently
variance in happiness appointed a Minister for
Loneliness. What with Brexit and the
country’s many problems since the 2008
financial crash, it seems that country still
has a lot of work to do. ■
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Fuengirola (Málaga)Digital health Digital health
turn off, switch on
Digital overload is causing burnout, stress,
lack of productivity and more. So is it time
to put down the tech and take back control?
W e are more
plugged in than
ever. Whether
emails or messenger apps,
digital workflow programmes
as being detrimental to
employee wellbeing – it causes
burnout, sleeplessness, lack
of productivity and other,
more serious, health issues.
willing to recognise the issues
and others less so. In 2016, the
French government initiated a
new employment law to
guarantee employees the ‘right
practices (such as email, SMS,
or instant messaging services)
at any time of the day or night,
over the weekend, during days
off or during training courses IBM Germany
to limit out-of-hours messaging
to reduce burnout among
workers. Indeed, Daimler is
something of a pioneer in this
regard – as far back as 2014 it
and organisational tools, video
calls or virtual meetings, the
Evidence also suggests that
as the volume of technology
to disconnect’. In force since
January 1, 2017, the right to
originating from managers,
but also from their colleagues blocks employees’ introduced a mail-blocking
policy for staff that go on
inescapable fact is that our
workdays are consumed by
in the workplace has increased,
our productivity has taken a
disconnect can be described
as “the employee’s right to
or themselves.”
emails between holiday. Yet other companies,
and other countries, are more
an unceasing connection to
digital devices.
downward turn.
“For those who feel that
disconnect from any digital
device or tool used for
Return to sender
Germany is one country at 8pm and 6am reluctant to join the digital
switch-off culture.
It doesn’t stop there, either. they can’t switch off from professional purposes such the forefront of the digital
While there’s little doubt that technology, there is a risk they as smartphones, email or the ‘switch-off’, or at least digital States of emergency
digital technology has changed never get proper recovery time, internet during his or her free reduction. For example, IBM In the US employers expect,
the working environment which is bad for long-term time and vacation.” The right to Germany blocks employees’ or even require, employees to
immeasurably, that same wellbeing and mental health,” disconnect, in principle, benefits emails between 8pm and 6am. Hück added: “To read and respond to their mobile phones
technology has, by virtue of says Emma Donaldson-Feilder, all employees, regardless of At the end of 2017 Uwe Hück, reply to emails from the boss or laptops day and night. And
its handheld nature, created an occupational psychologist their professional category and head of German car maker during the evenings is unpaid with an employer-friendly
a culture where many of us and director at Affinity Health related responsibilities. Porsche’s works council and working time that increases environment in the US right
feel it necessary to work at Work, which specialises in More recently, French deputy chairman of Porsche’s stress – that’s just not now, it seems highly unlikely
around the clock. For some improving organisational telecoms giant Orange supervisory board, said the acceptable.” any active central government
of us, that compulsion has performance through enhancing declared: “Respect for private firm’s employees should be Other high-profile companies legislation to reduce digital
become an addiction. workplace health, wellbeing, life and the right to switch off protected from work-related such as Volkswagen, BMW and dependency will occur soon.
engagement and leadership. are considered to be emails in their free time, and Daimler in Germany, and Areva Locally, however, the
Battling burnout The global situation is fundamental rights at Orange. any correspondence between and Axa in France, have also situation is changing. In March
The overuse of digital devices fragmented to say the least, It is a matter of protecting 7pm and 6am should be taken matters into their own 2018, New York’s City Council
has in recent years been cited with some countries more employees from intrusive “returned to sender”. hands and introduced steps declared that it is considering ➝
24 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 25Digital health
a law that would make it employees are encouraged to
illegal for employers to require communicate with colleagues,
workers be on call to answer step away from their desk and
emails after clocking out for
the day. As one commentator Good leadership simply take a break.
“Some countries and
put it: “Getting the measure
enacted in the notoriously requires the leader organisations are trying to
manage the issues through
workaholic environment of
New York, a massive global to be fully present laws, policies and mandates,”
adds Donaldson-Feilder.
financial and media hub that
prides itself on being ‘the city in their interactions “However, it may actually
be more beneficial to
that never sleeps’, could prove support employees through
to be far more difficult. The awareness-raising and helping
measure will no doubt face them take greater control of
fierce opposition from the technology rather than
city’s business community, reducing control still further
should it even get that far Top tips for digital through universal mandates.”
health
to be approved.” Donaldson-Feilder believes
Ultimately, finding the there are essential actions that Leading by example
balance between a perceived leaders must take to ensure Companies can no longer
that both they and their
need to be connected 24/7 and employees avoid becoming ignore the issue at the expense
the repercussions of a failure to subservient to the digital world: of their employees’ wellbeing,
do so is the current status quo. and the onus is on leaders to
1. Be conscious of how you use take control. “For leaders and
Requirement for rest digital media and technology senior executives,” says
– reflect on how to benefit
But there are other, more from the advantages and
Donaldson-Feilder, “the
significant, side effects of avoid the disadvantages. demands and expectations
avoiding or ignoring digital are potentially greater, so it is
2. Think about how your use
‘downtime’, says Donaldson- of technology impacts on
even more important to find
Feilder: “The body and mind those you lead: communicate ways to switch off – both for
never get a chance to return clear expectations and their own wellbeing and in
beware of what you are
to a resting state. It means that role-modelling. For example,
order to be effective leaders.
these individuals are ‘always avoid sending messages “Good leadership requires
on’, which can be damaging out of working hours as this the leader to be fully present
will give people the idea
for mental and physical that they also need to be
in their interactions with others
functioning.” responding out of hours. in order to create relationships
Preventing digital overload that inspire and support
3. Put away all technology
has become a key part of when you enter a meeting
people, so it is particularly
employee wellbeing or have a conversation important that they put their
programmes, with the concept with someone. Instead, technology to one side not only
be ‘fully present’.
of ‘digital detoxing’ taking to take a break for themselves,
hold in many boardrooms 4. Turn off push notifications but also to really meet others.
and organisations. Virgin and ‘red dot’ badges on “To avoid digital overload,
everything to have control
Management, which supports over when you check
it’s essential to be conscious of
the Branson family and the messages, rather than the impact of that technology
growth of the Virgin brand having the compulsion to your business. By creating
to look at them because
by developing and nurturing you have a notification.
awareness in the boardroom
valuable Virgin businesses, and among your employees,
shuts down all emails for two 5. Create device-free time it’s possible to benefit from
in your week so you can
hours each week, with no totally recover.
the advantages while avoiding
access granted. Instead, the disadvantages.” ■
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