Individuals in healthy organizations are more likely to stay in their role, more likely to refer new employees, more likely to promote the organization, and more likely to be resilient in the face of challenges.
The benefits extend beyond the direct needs of the company. Healthy individuals working for healthy teams within healthy organizations have happier lives and carry less stress home with them. They are able to reach the highest level of their performance, which affirms their worth. They view setbacks and challenges as opportunities, not as tragedies that derail progress.
Most individuals seek healthy organizations and expect that their workplace will be supportive, empowering, and educational. By the time they reach a healthy organization, most individuals have learned behaviors that are antithetical to organizational health. Just as being physically healthy requires changing habits and learning new behaviors, individual organizational health requires unlearning and rebuilding.
Healthy and resilient individuals have faith and trust in the teams they work with. They feel they belong, that they can learn and make mistakes, that they can contribute, and that they can challenge systems and assumptions.
Research has discovered that the most healthy and resilient individuals share a number of characteristics. They understand how their mind works and how doubt and ego distort reality. They understand how the world works, so they’re not easily shocked and don’t wish for a new reality. They have large networks of positive relationships. And, they are more likely to ask for help from friends and colleagues.
Building healthy individuals requires the entire organization to agree and commit to prioritizing health. I discuss how teams work, how leaders contribute and support health, and how entire systems function when they are healthy, but individuals have the most vital role.
Individuals must commit to challenge their preconceived notions of the workplace. They must be able to leave behind what doesn’t serve them anymore and learn new approaches that foster health. Most of all, they must see the value and be committed to a mindset of organizational health.
