Wellbeing eats culture and strategy for breakfast

While Peter Drucker famously said “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” evidence suggests that wellbeing actually eats both culture and strategy for breakfast, creating an even more fundamental foundation for organisational success.

Our wellbeing determines our culture

What influences culture, or to put it another way, how we do things round here? I’d argue that the biggest influence is wellbeing. Of course this will largely depend on how you define wellbeing but I’m using the following broader definition for reasons clearly explained in this article.

The quality of our lives in balance with other people, species and the planet

The quality of our cultural wellbeing will be interdependent on our personal and collective mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social, environmental and economic wellbeing (collectively, the eight domains of wellbeing). If we focus on improving these elements and being at our best personally and collectively then our culture will thrive.

In order to engage employees organisations should focus on creating an experience that seeks to enhance and promote all domains of wellbeing.

Creating sustainable success

A focus on wellbeing creates a virtuous cycle as shown in the diagram above:

• When employees feel valued and supported, they become more engaged
• Engaged employees are more creative, perform better, deliver better customer service, inspire other employees
• This creates an environment where the culture can thrive
• A positive culture increases the probability of successful strategy execution leading to better brand reputation
• Brand reputation attracts new employees, customers and investors

A balanced and holistic approach to wellbeing

It is imperative that all domains are considered in a balanced and integrated way. To provide a few examples, performance will be diminished over the longer term if:

• We’re physically fit but mentally drained or overly stressed.
• We’re achieving great things but are constantly asking ‘what’s the purpose to all this?’
• If our personal or collective success leaves a bad taste in the mouths of others. We win, they lose.
• We’re financially succesful but are using resources in an unsustainable manner.

The leadership factor

For wellbeing to truly transform an organisation, leadership must demonstrate authentic commitment through:

• Role modeling
• Creating supportive policies and practices
• Ensuring consistent communication
• Actively involving employees

The CANBE model below is a proprietary framework that supports this balanced, holistic and sustainable approach to social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing. Take a look to see some of the key drivers in each of the areas. What do you notice about the cost of potential activities in each of these?

Wellbeing is the fundamental foundation

The key insight here is that wellbeing isn’t just another organisational initiative – it’s the fundamental foundation upon which both culture and strategy must be built to create sustainable success.

Create your sustainable success now

Wellbeing Mastery for Leaders – a unique 1:1 coaching progamme that delivers personal development and organisational impact. The holistic approach, based on the interconnected wellbeing domains, sets this programme apart from standard leadership development. Through the coaching you develop your own unique way forward.

Wellbeing Designed Organisations – A mastermind group and workshop for wellbeing centred organisational transformation.

Speaking – tailored presentations, talks, keynotes and workshops designed to educate, inform and inspire.