A SUCCESSFUL VITALITY PROGRAM IN 5 STEPS

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Health has become an important business value: it partly determines how well employees perform and thereby contributes to the value of an organization. Therefore, in this blog, we present 5 insightful steps for a successful vitality program.

It's not surprising that in these new times, attention is focused on the employee. Dependence on good employees is increasing, hence the importance of employees staying physically and mentally healthy. If you take it a step further, you genuinely focus on the health, engagement, and development of employees.

And what's evident is that companies directly reap the benefits from this approach. Improved fitness and workplace enjoyment lead to reduced absenteeism, higher labor productivity, and increased satisfaction among employees and customers. Health has become a significant business value: it partly determines how well employees perform and thereby contributes to the value of an organization.

Successful vitality Program

Increasingly, programs are implemented in organizations as a means to achieve vitality for both individuals and the organization. It's a win-win situation.

Based on our experiences, we have learned what is necessary to make such a wellness program truly effective.

We can translate these lessons into insights, which can then be transformed into criteria or tips for a successful wellness program.

Step 1: The Necessary Combination of Focus on Physical and Mental Health

A wellness program should address both physical and mental well-being. After all, vitality is not solely a physical dimension. Covey suggests that vitality consists of a mental dimension (mind), a physical dimension (body), a socio-emotional dimension (heart), and an inspirational dimension (spirit).

To name a few factors: meaningful work, personal growth, energy, physical condition, personality, relationships, handling adversity, meaning, and the balance between work and personal life.

Allocate attention to all these dimensions in the program, thereby putting health and well-being at the forefront.

Step 2: Personalized Advice 

Addressing personal issues and risks is a much greater incentive for behavioral change than providing information about general health risks. An individual conversation following the results of the vitality scan is a simple yet effective method for promoting health and behavioral change.

Tailored messages, adjusted to the extent to which a person wants to change, reduce resistance and increase effectiveness.

Step 3: Motivational interviewing

No matter what you do, it's like talking to a brick wall if participants don't open up or are not receptive. Aligning with the participant's sources of motivation is the key. Not using persuasion, confrontation, or threats. Not focusing on fear, shame, loss, or discomfort, but on connecting with something intrinsically valuable, something precious to them.

Make clear the drawbacks of current behavior and the benefits of doing things differently. Eventually, let the participant come up with the arguments themselves.

Encourage belief in their capability to effect real change.

Step 4: Action Plan

It provides a concrete image in someone's mind of the future situation (where and when) and the corresponding actions (how).

An example of an intention is "I want to lose 10 kilograms." An action plan adds to that "every morning before breakfast, I put on my running shoes and jog for 30 minutes."

It's important to translate intentions into behavior: if situation X arises, I will perform behavior Y. This prompts reflection on the situation, activates it, and makes it more accessible in the brain. When the participant encounters such a relevant situation, it's noticed earlier and executing the behavior becomes easier.

Encourage participants to create action plans. These plans can also include actions to take when facing barriers.

Step 5: Understanding What It Yields

Implementing a wellness program is often a step-by-step learning process. Systematic evaluation and understanding the results increase the chance of success and sustainability.

Organize process and impact evaluations, with clear goals being essential.

The above list of insights is by no means exhaustive and can easily be supplemented with many more insights. Moreover, many tips and criteria are interrelated, and some are more important than others in specific contexts. Meanwhile, we continue to work with enthusiasm!

 

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