Summer Wellbeing Workshop Offer

Transform the energy and engagement of your team with our most popular workshop...and a special summer offer.

• Our Introduction to Health, Wellbeing and Personal Performance workshop helps individuals and organisations take their wellbeing results to the next level

• We're currently offering 10 workshops at the preferential rate of £395.00*

• Workshops last 90-minutes and can accommodate up to 20 participants

• Workshops at this preferential rate must be booked and delivered by August 6th 2015

To book a workshop for your team, call us on 020 8995 1302 or email info@the-tonic.com

What to expect from the workshop

'Thank you again for your very informative Health, Wellness and Personal Performance presentation last week for our 60+ members of staff. 

It's extremely important in our high-paced, energetic working environment to maintain a healthy work/life balance and understand how the type of work we do (with the traveling, late nights and international expectations) can effect our overall wellbeing. 

Everyone on the team has made 3 commitments that they are working towards over the next few weeks, with the goal of integrating these new practices into their long-term routines.

Clearly, the points raised in your presentation really have stuck with everyone and we look forward to your follow up in a few weeks time. We'd like to have you back to share this presentation with the other areas of the business as well.'
Huib van Bockel
Founder, The Social Brand

*Regular workshop cost is £695.00. Price excludes VAT and travel.

Photo by Flickr: Thangaraj Kumaravel

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Leadership, Strategy And A Race Round The Park

This week one of our wellness programmes featured a 5KM challenge.

It's part of a leadership programme that we work on regularly and the 5K challenge has become a major feature. It doesn't matter how fit you are, taking part is what counts.

The event is a lot of fun for everyone and there are always some keen runners in every group so the competition to be the winner can be quite interesting, but more of that below in our list of three reasons why this type of wellness initiative is a valuable asset to any leadership event:

1) Targeted shared experiences enhance team dynamics and performance
75% of the group took part which is a fantastic turn out for an optional physical activity.  Some ran or walked 5km for the first time, some set a personal record for running the distance, some were out to get some fresh air in the middle of a day of study, some made the most of the social element.  Whatever their individual aims were in taking part, everyone finished the event with a sense of achievement and a great shared experience.  The post-event review and analysis continued throughout the day.

2) Small challenge can create big results
To develop people we need to help them challenge themselves and this can be achieved by creating a variety of environments where they can sign up to initiatives that don't appear to include a huge risk but provide the opportunity for people to walk away from them with a huge sense of satisfaction and achievement.

Prior to the event, most of the group were playing down their expectations of how they would perform.  Aside from a handful of regular runners, the majority of those who took part were just hoping to make it round the course or were planning a mixture of running and walking or a steady stroll around the entire distance.  As it turned out, everyone did better than they expected.  Spurred on by their colleagues and supported by fellow group members they all ran further or faster than anticipated and were pleasantly surprised that a little bit of a push helped them achieve a lot more than they had expected.

3) Bridge the gap between strategy and reality
The keen runners in the group had many conversations ahead of the event about how they would pace the race, what speed they'd start at and what order they expected to finish in.  When the starting gun went, all plans went out of the window.  A couple started faster than everyone expected, others had to decide to go with them or start slower and try to catch up later on.  The tactics were fascinating to watch.  At the finish line everyone was happy with the race they had run even if it hadn't quite gone as they had expected.

For this group the race was a great metaphor for business.  Planning and strategy are all very well but you can only find out what you're capable of and how you can deliver under pressure when you put yourself into a live, dynamic and evolving situation.

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3 Leadership Lessons from the World of Rowing

As part of a leadership programme this week we took a group of executives to learn to row.

Some were excited, some were sceptical, all were hoping they wouldn't fall in.

Thankfully, no one did.

In the end, everyone loved the experience and drew some valuable insights from their time in a boat.

1. New challenges quickly bring new insights
Taking on a new challenge can be liberating.  Rowing was a fresh experience for everyone and by focusing on the opportunity to learn something new rather than resisting the unknown, they experienced a greater sense of achievement and confidence building than would ever be possible during an afternoon working on familiar aspects of their jobs.  Time well spent, everyone agreed.

2. Change is inevitable - Embrace it for success
We asked participants to take their seat in a racing boat, on a choppy river in windy conditions, and work together as a team to master a very technical sport.  They had to concentrate hard, think on their feet, adapt to ever changing conditions and communicate clearly.  All of which they did, resulting in everyone feeling suitably impressed with their ability to stay focused and pull together despite being placed in an unfamiliar and uncertain environment.  It was impressive to see people flourish so quickly in these new surroundings.

3. Focused team performance can create incredible results
The event included a team race.  Initially this idea sparked a round of 'I'm not sure I'm fit enough for that' and 'I wouldn't want to let anyone down' type responses.  Generally, a little bit of reluctance.  In fact, once they got going, everyone far exceeded their expectations and interestingly also all improved on their performance in a similar but individual part of the programme earlier in the day.

The key was undoubtedly the team element.  Supporting each other in a shared goal with mutual respect and consideration created focused individuals and slick and efficient team performance.  And a fantastically exciting race.

All in all a great experience for everyone, the benefits of which will last for years to come, as will the key learnings as they filter through respective teams back in the office.

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Inspiring Wellness Success Story 15

Next in our series of success stories from our wellness programmes, two examples of how easy it can be to achieve dramatic results with simple but consistent changes to a daily routine.

These two people each took a slightly different approach during their programme.  One of them was motivated to focus on their exercise routine, while the other prioritised changes to their food schedule.

The results speak for themselves:

'I have never felt or been fitter, and the results are much more energy, optimism and emotional resilience, which got me through a particularly tough time at work.'

'I feel much better during the day: with more energy.'

Here's a review of how they made wellness work

1) Exercise & resilience

• The date of the programme you attended

November 2011

• The lifestyle changes you made during programme

I attended one exercise class, or went swimming, virtually every day of the programme

• The lifestyle changes you made following programme

Initially, just an attempt to exercise more, and more regularly

• The lifestyle changes that have stuck with you to the present day

Now, I exercise in the morning, twice a week, and I go spinning at least one other morning a week

• The secrets of your success with wellbeing

A regular commitment is vital

• What advice that you received made the greatest impact on you?

You have time to keep yourself fit – but you have to work at finding that time

• The biggest benefits of making your lifestyle changes?

I have never felt or been fitter, and the results are much more energy, optimism and emotional resilience, which got me through a particularly tough time at work. And I look better so I am more confident

• When wellbeing is working for you, what are the key elements that make the difference?  

Regular exercise, taking a healthy breakfast, having several alcohol-free evenings a week

2) Eating for Energy

• The date of the programme you attended

September 2011

• The lifestyle changes you made during programme

Started eating every 3 hours and much more healthy food

• The lifestyle changes that have stuck with you to the present day

Continued to eat every 3 hours and much more healthy food plus exercising regularly

• The secrets of your success with wellbeing

Sleeping regularity plus healthier food, eating every 3 hours and exercising more frequently

• What advice that you received made the greatest impact on you?

The healthy eating presentation.  It made a huge difference on me – I lost 12 kg since the beginning of the programme!

• The biggest benefits of making your lifestyle changes?

I feel much better during the day: with more energy!

If you'd like to discuss wellness modules for your leadership, training and development programmes, email us on info@the-tonic.com

Read previous instalments of wellness success stories here

Image by Flickr:  Melly Kay Customs

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