How to Run an Amazing Wellbeing Event part 2

'Thanks to you and your team for the great well being day yesterday! 

Feedback has been great, and take up was high too.' 


As always it's very gratifying to receive positive feedback from the events we run for our clients.  When I wrote about running successful wellbeing events last month in How to run an amazing wellbeing event, I focused on how the practical and realistic advice available on the day makes a huge difference to how empowered and motivated staff feel.

Today I thought it would be worthwhile writing a few words on the practicalities of organising an amazing wellbeing event.  Effective organisation is key to the success of any wellbeing day and this was certainly the case at this event.  So what are the key logistical considerations you need to think about to make your event a success?

1) Your wellbeing day must be relevant for your audience
If you're planning a wellbeing event, consult staff to find out what resources they'd find most useful.  There's no need to throw everything at every single event.  Be selective and ensure quality of advice, consultations, treatments and information available on the day.  

A great thing about wellbeing events is that you can discover a huge amount about the challenges staff in your organisation face when it comes to looking after themselves and you can use this information to plan targeted initiatives for your future programme.  

A series of events with targeted initiatives at each event will be more successful than a single huge event that people find overwhelming.  A series of events also sends the message that the wellbeing of your staff is a long-term priority for the business, not just a one-hit wonder.

2) Communicate the benefits for staff clearly
This means broadcasting details of the event well in advance and then regularly leading up to the day.  Make sure staff have details of what's on offer as well as the potential benefits for them of attending. 

Point out that you are organising this event and including initiatives based on what they've asked for and that if you're responding to their requests, they have a responsibility to come along and take part.  

Create a sense of excitement and anticipation in the lead-up to the event.  Send staff details of positive results that colleagues have experienced by implementing lifestyle changes they've learned about at previous events.  If this is your first event, use case studies from wellbeing events that have been run elsewhere.  

3) Get the support of managers and directors
Staff must know that it's OK to take time to attend the event.  This is something that was key to the success of the event on Wednesday.  Within this organisation it's understood that the wellbeing days are designed to educate staff and help them uncover the specific lifestyle choices and motivation that suit their situation.  Everyone is free to take their time and make the most of the resources on offer.  

Line managers should attend events to demonstrate that they value wellbeing initiatives and expect staff to make the most of the opportunity to attend.

One final point.  To increase the long-term value of each wellbeing event that you organise, build in the opportunity to communicate with staff following the event.  This reminds them of the advice they collected and encourages them to make sure they are taking regular action to stay healthy and energetic.

If you'd like further information on setting up amazing wellbeing initiatives, download our guide Successful Corporate Wellbeing Programmes: Howto create a dynamic, energised and engaged workforce and boost business results from our website www.the-tonic.com.

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How to Run an Amazing Wellbeing Event

'We had an amazing day thank you, please pass on our thanks to the whole team.'

It's great to get positive feedback from the events we run.  Last Thursday's wellbeing day was based in a particularly challenging environment for the staff who work there.  Faced with a remote location and long working hours, eating well, fitting in exercise and sleeping well were all challenges they faced.

I thought it would be useful to share how we tackled some of these challenges on the day so you can use the information yourself or pass it on to colleagues.

If your office would benefit for a wellbeing day please get in touch with us and we can help you design an event that would suit your needs.

The secret to a successful event is to be able to give staff practical and realistic advice that makes a difference quickly. Here are some examples.

Wellbeing challenge 1
Our office is so far away from anywhere that we struggle to eat well.  The closest thing is a petrol station which is where most of us tend to go for lunch or snacks
Our nutritionist was able to provide a selection of simple snacks that can be prepared at home, as well as suggesting simple meals and encouraging people to cook extra at mealtimes and bring leftovers.  We also had a fitness expert on site conducting health assessments and providing staff with key performance indicators they can use to judge the benefits of eating more healthily as they monitor these numbers in the future.

Wellbeing challenge 2
I used to like running / gardening / walking but I've got a bad knee / back / shoulder so I've had to stop
At the event we had a physiotherapist and an osteopath who were able to provide advice on the stretches, strengthening exercises and postural adjustments required to fix injuries and get people back to the exercise they enjoy.

Wellbeing challenge 3
We're all pretty busy at the moment so it can be quite hard to unwind and relax at the end of the day
Thankfully our team of massage therapists were on hand to iron out any physical tension and also demonstrate that even short breaks pay dividends over the course of a long day when it comes to maintaining energy and focus.

Get the design right at your wellbeing day and the results will be amazing for you too.

Image by ontheflyrecipes Flickr

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4 Secrets of wellbeing day success

We had some great feedback from a wellbeing day we organised for one of our clients this week.  I wanted to share it as it sums up the approach required to ensure staff get interested and motivated at events such as this, and how you make sure they receive wellbeing advice that lasts well beyond the event.

Keep these four points in mind when deciding on the type of people you choose to work with your staff and their wellbeing.

Just a quick email to say thank you for our excellent WellBeing day yesterday.

Lots of my colleagues have come to thank me for organising the day but really this thanks should be passed on to the team who looked after us so well yesterday.

The feedback I have been getting is that the team were:

1) Friendly

2) Approachable

3) Knowledgeable

4) And all took the time to listen and consult with people’s specific needs on a one to one basis

I have only had positive feedback from those who received treatments and I would be grateful if you could pass on our thanks to the team.

Even the self-confessed sceptics who were originally concerned about taking time out from work were full of praise.

We are all looking forward to our next Wellbeing day!

Many thanks,

Iain

You can read more about how achieve wellbeing success for our clients here

Image by  Moyan_Brenn Flickr

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Create a Healthy Work/Life Balance

When I am coaching clients in the corporate world, I often come across a common complaint: “I have lots of good intentions, but I just can’t seem to find the time to create a better work/life balance”.

Unfortunately, this is a result of working in a fast paced career environment. We know we need to eat healthily, exercise and reduce stress levels, but it won’t happen without some planning. 
Here is the first part of a series of tips on how to manage your time effectively, so you can lead a healthier lifestyle and still have energy for fun without burning out.

1) Decide what you want

People often speak of things being out of balance but don't often take the time to understand what balance means for them.  Set aside time to make a plan of what a good week looks like including work hours, time for exercise / activity, healthy eating, family time, sleep and socialising.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when putting your plan together:

•  How do you want your life to look?
• Who is important to you?    
•  Which activities do you enjoy?

If you thrive on adrenaline and need exciting hobbies to energise you, make sure you put that in your plan. If you prefer a more relaxed approach, make it a priority. The more focused you are on achieving high priority items on the list, the happier you will be with your choices. If something is low on your list, you may need to consider eliminating it all together. When you focus on the goals you really want to achieve, you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment and you’ll enjoy life more.

  

2) Take instant action

Highlight one area of your plan and take action today to making your desired balance a reality. This could be taking some exercise today, eating differently, drinking more water or taking a time out.  Just do something positive for yourself today.

You may find it helpful to use an online planner to keep track of your goals, or if you are a visual person, you could invest in a small dry wipe board to hang above your desk or in your kitchen.

It’s far better to take baby steps with new goals, than to be over ambitious and abandon the whole plan because it’s overwhelming.  The goal is not to over schedule  yourself, but to lay a clear path to living the life you really want. Once you start to make small changes, these will build up over time and before you know it, you will have more control over what you do with your time, and it will give you a sense of satisfaction.

3) Set aside time to review your plan regularly

The more often you engage with your plan and take action towards your ideal situation, the quicker you'll find that you experience a sense of balance.

It’s all too easy to ‘fall off the wagon’ or ditch the new healthy eating regime when temptation strikes, but if you consult your plan on a daily or weekly basis, you can keep track of your progress and make changes to suit you.

Don’t feel discouraged if you stumble along the way. Changing a lifetime of bad habits is not easy, and you can always start over again, or tweak your plan to reach more realistic goals.

Stay tuned over coming weeks and we'll help you fine tune each element of your plan.

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image by patriziasoliani at flickr

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How to Help Staff Quit Smoking

It's No Smoking Day on March 9th and, whilst we don't run any initiatives specifically related to quitting smoking, we have worked with many smokers who have chosen to give up cigarettes during, or very soon after taking part in, our general wellness programmes.There's a large element of timing involved in when people choose to give up smoking and you certainly can't put pressure on them to quit - it simply doesn't help and chances are they're already putting a good deal of pressure on themselves to stop.

Here's how we achieve success in this area.

1) Focus on positives

There's little point repeating the negative consequences of smoking. Smokers are all too familiar with these. Instead send messages that focus on the positive elements of not smoking such as increased energy, better concentration, inner calm and a stronger immune system

2) Lay down a challenge

No one likes to feel they are operating below par in any area of life. Asking the general question of what would lead people to the greatest improvement with their health and wellbeing will usually steer smokers in the direction of giving up without you having to be too heavy handed with the message

3) Add accountability

People choose to stop smoking on our programmes because we provide a manageable time frame for them to work with. If they can stop for a couple of days, a week, a month or a couple of months over the duration of a modular programme, this can be enough to convince them they can become a non-smoker for the long-term.

March 9th is a good reminder to staff to be vigilant with their wellbeing habits Use No Smoking Day as part of your ongoing schedule of events and communications to ensure that healthy living is such a priority with employees that they'll always respond to opportunities to raise their game with their wellbeing.

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