“Teamwork makes the dream work”, is a
cliched adage, albeit, an accurate one. Though many interpretations and lessons
can be drawn from this short statement, the underlying message, for me, is that
people matter. This sentiment is even easier to see given the recent
focus of ‘wellbeing’ in many workplaces “ecosystems”, as well as the growing
body of research exploring this space; an attempt to, among other things,
remind people that they matter. To pinpoint a definition that
encompasses the breadth of wellbeing is challenging at best, though many
able-minded individuals are attempting to. Dodge, Daly, Huyton and
Sanders (2012) propose a new definition of wellbeing as “the balance point
between an individual’s resource pool and the challenges faced.''
Dodge, Daly, Huyton and Sanders (2012)
explains that whenever an individual encounters a circumstance that they
perceive as challenging, a course of action is pursued to rebalance their
wellbeing by drawing from their pool of psychological, social and physical
resources; ideally the most appropriate resource for the challenge. This idea
is captured through an analogy of a seesaw where resources are balanced against
challenges. When there’s a surplus of challenges with inadequate
resources to draw upon, an individual’s wellbeing is tipped. The opposite is
also true, and with this in mind, we can begin to address the question: how
can we ensure that individuals are adequately equipped to address the
professional challenges they face?
Beyond this definition, the phrasing of
‘resource pool’ evokes imagery which offers a more expressive understanding of
this concept, in that a pool is multifaceted in its uses and its upkeep. “It
allows for the notion that each individual has a unique resource pool which
‘determines whether or not a task an individual encounters turns out to be a routine
chore, a challenge or a risk”. It also implies that attempting to create or
return to a state of balance in one’s wellbeing means that it is not
static but rather a “condition that must be prepared for, cultivated and
defended privately by each person, putting the pursuit of wellbeing in the
hands of an individual”. However, it is important to note that while
responsibility for wellbeing sits primarily in the hands of the individual,
experts suggest that optimum teacher wellbeing is better achieved
cooperatively.
One of the many ways the community around
an individual can support and develop their wellbeing is by celebrating their
successes. Celebrating successes creates an opportunity for an
individual to identify their strengths; their resource pool. Experiencing an
outside perspective reinforces the efficacy of an individual and presents them
with evidence which in turn equips them to address new challenges as they
arise. Though the potential benefits of celebrating with an individual would
empower them in the future, it could be argued that the real value lies in
something much simpler: gratitude.
In part one of ‘the currencies of
wellbeing’ series, we explored how personality frameworks are used to help individuals
identify (and communicate) their strengths, inner-workings, motivations, and
their needs in order to flourish. Considering this and the unique nature
of wellbeing highlighted above, it’s important that a thoughtful approach is
taken to celebrate those around you. As our week draws to a close, we are
offered an opportunity to reflect and adjust. At this time, consider those
around you and the work they have invested in, as well as, the successes
they’ve experienced recently. Take a moment to acknowledge them, to provide
evidence of what it is they bring to the table because gratitude and celebration
are two simple tools which can turn an inch into a mile.
Link to 'Pt. 1: Speak their language.'
No comments:
Post a Comment