How Wellbeing Can Create Competitive Advantage with Dr Richard Safeer
Oct 25, 2023
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Dr Richard Safeer, Chief Medical Director of Employee Health at Johns Hopkins Medicine, discusses the importance of wellbeing in the workplace as a source of competitive advantage. He highlights the need to shift from a sacrifice mentality to value-based approach, prioritize employee well-being, and create a positive workplace culture. Strategies for building a well-being culture, making a personal connection with decision-makers, and supporting employees' families are also explored.
Well-being should be viewed as a source of competitive advantage, not just a benefit for employees.
The sacrifice mindset in the workplace perpetuates negative outcomes and compromises overall well-being.
Deep dives
Well-being as a Competitive Advantage
Richard Safir emphasizes the importance of viewing well-being as a source of competitive advantage rather than just a benefit for employees. By embedding well-being at a cultural level, organizations can tackle the well-being crisis and create a healthier workforce.
The Negative Impact of Sacrifice Mindset
The sacrifice mindset in the workplace leads to negative outcomes, such as burnout, rising lifestyle diseases, and strained personal relationships. It perpetuates the idea that success requires sacrificing physical, emotional, mental, and social needs, compromising overall well-being.
Six Building Blocks for Well-Being Strategy
Richard Safir identifies six building blocks for an effective well-being strategy: peer support, leadership engagement, norms, shared values, culture connection points, and social climate. These building blocks shape a supportive and healthy workplace culture that prioritizes well-being.
Extending Well-Being to Whole Lives
Organizations need to recognize that well-being extends beyond the workplace and affects an individual's whole life, including their family and community. By supporting employee well-being, organizations can positively impact the health and happiness of employees and their families.
In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Chief Medical Director of Employee Health at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dr Richard Safeer. During this conversation, Richard tells us that one key is to avoid thinking about wellbeing in the workplace as a benefit in kind for employees and rather see it as a source of competitive advantage. Richard’s book ‘A Cure for the Common Company (Wiley, 2023)’ delivers a step-by-step roadmap to creating a culture of health on your team and in your company that keeps your people happier and more engaged.