Sphere of influence - Workplace wellbeing

TAB: Trust, Authenticity & Belonging

In January 2024, I joined the CWO program and I am blown away by the tenacity and willingness to make change happen with mindful folks in 60+ countries around the world. And humbled to complete the 2024 Chief Wellbeing Officer certification.

2024 Chief Wellbeing Officer certification - Div Manickam

If you're interested in the next CWO cohort starting on April 25th 2024, apply for a scholarship here. Applications are open till April 15th. We need people like you that want to transform the way we understand the world with happiness and well-being.

CWO: April - June 2024 - Apply here

I will cherish these kind words from Luis Gallardo, as I embark on this journey for well-being at the workplace.

Div⁩, you inspire, influence, and impact; that is part of your magic for well-being and happiness. Trust, Authenticity and Belonging are the 3 tenants that simplify all frameworks and become the core of your plans. LOVE it. Thanks for your mentorship and leadership, Always ! - Luis

And a big thank you to my CWO peer sync group for helping shape the workplace well-being plan. I appreciate you. ⁨

Luciana,⁩ Sagar, Catalina, ⁨Mauricio, Carla,⁩ Amy, Minnku - Thank you all for your loving kindness ❣️

Highlights from our peer group discussion:

• Workplace is changing

  • Work isn't working anymore

• Wellbeing is crucial for business success

  • Start small steps

• Co-create wellbeing with leaders and peers

  • Be your true authentic self
    

• Matt Nink shared a workplace wellbeing survey for creating a baseline to start the conversation.

  

• UAE vision: Happiness and wellbeing

  

• With inspirational talks from Jacqueline Brassey at McKinsey, Uma Prajapati - Upsana, Nilima Bhat - Shakti Leadership and others, I feel empowered to be the change I want to see in the world. Thank you for being a change advocate.

  • Shift from power over to power with

  • Channel outer change with inner change

    
    

TAB: Trust, Authenticity, Belonging

Inspired by the US Surgeon General’s framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well‑Being, I created a simple starter workplace wellbeing framework - TAB.

• Trust -> Work-Life Harmony -> Autonomy

• Authenticity -> Mattering at work -> Meaning

• Belonging -> Connection & Community -> Inclusion

• What is Your Personal Definition of Belonging?

• What is Your Team’s Definition of Belonging?

• What is Your Organization’s Definition of Belonging?

I am passionate to empower teams and organizations to create a safe environment where we can foster meaningful work and belonging.

Work-Life Harmony Reflection: How might we create a culture of gratitude and affirmation amongst all levels of our organization?

Reach out via LinkedIn if you are interested to learn more and collaborate together!

Sharing the presentation I reviewed with Luis for the workplace wellbeing plan.

And in the Work3 - The Future of Work newsletter, I came across this post from Smiley Poswolsky, a force of good. What a small world… We are both paving the path for workplace belonging in our own way.

Love these ideas on 'Quarter-life Breakthrough', the moment when we focus:

1. Invent our own path and not being limited by societal expectations or the fear of failure.

2. Find meaningful work that reflects their interests and allows them to give back and help others.

3. Build a career and life that is financially viable while also being personally fulfilling.

Smiley developed the concept of switching to think about 'Lily Pads' instead of Career Ladder:

Embracing Lateral Moves - The lily pad approach empowers people to hop between "lily pads" - different roles, industries, or even entrepreneurial ventures - in pursuit of a more enriching and rewarding career path.

Holistic Well-being - The importance of overall well-being, recognizing that true fulfillment comes from a sense of purpose, work-life balance, and the ability to make a positive impact on the world around us.

I came across the Quarter life breakthrough book in 2021 and it gave me hope.

And excited to discover the Workplace Belonging Toolkit. Love the lily pad concept vs career ladder - lateral careers will be explored in different dimensions to find meaning and purpose in career and life.

The Workplace Belonging Toolkit is here!

And in the Mission: Joy - Finding Happiness in Troubled Times Netflix documentary with Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu , it was more apparent how crucial joy and happiness is for wellbeing as a community.

Suffering is the pathway to compassion and kindness.
Well being is a skill just like how we learn to brush our teeth over time.

This documentary reminds us that it's important to connect with each other and bring joy.

Ubuntu - we belong in this delicate network with other beings. We can be human together.

• We are a masterpiece in the making. We are not perfect. We are human.

• Basic human nature is good. We are wired to be compassionate.
  
  The news makes us feel like there is only negative and bad things happening.
  The key to joy is to get in touch with your own natural compassion.
  

• Forgiveness does not mean forget.

  • Forgiving is not a sign of weakness.

  • Forgiveness is to work together for a better tomorrow.
    
    
    Song: We are the world.. to create a better place.. just you and me..
    

    
    The best friendships are the ones that are based on profound respect for each other.
    Desmond Tutu’s daughter, Mpho Tutu van Furth
    

And I love this thought shared by my dear friend - a reminder that we bloom in our own way and pace.

Oubaitori is an ancient Japanese idiom that emphasizes the importance of not comparing oneself to others.

Cheers to the change makers who belong together!

Foster friendships at work. These bonds will outlive any job.

Reach out via LinkedIn if you are interested to learn more and collaborate together!