19 October 2023

Wellbeing Champions: Catalysts for Change

You've assembled your dedicated team of Wellbeing Champions, but what's next? How can you ensure they become a driving force for positive change within your organisation?

Sandra Ordel, Senior Business Psychologist at The Wellbeing Project, shares her top six strategies for success.

You’ve assembled your dedicated team of Wellbeing Champions, but what’s next? How can you ensure they become a driving force for positive change within your organisation?

Organisations introduce networks of Wellbeing Champions with good intentions. Many invest in some initial training, but then what? Without a clear strategy for maximising the potential of this valuable network, you are left with a group of enthusiastic volunteers who want to make a difference but who ultimately fail to make an impact.

Wellbeing Champions can deliver real business results. They are your ears on the ground and are well-positioned to bring your wellbeing strategy to life.

So, to help you get the most from your Wellbeing Champions, Sandra Ordel, Senior Business Psychologist at The Wellbeing Project, shares her top six strategies for success.

Wellbeing Champions lead wellbeing initiatives for their team

1. Enable your Wellbeing Champions to take an inclusive approach

Effective wellbeing initiatives must cater to the diverse needs of your organisation’s members. It is crucial to empower your Wellbeing Champions to adopt an inclusive approach. It starts by ensuring you have a diverse group of Wellbeing Champions. Following on from this, specialist training on diversity in wellbeing is essential. With enhanced awareness, your Wellbeing Champions will be better placed to put inclusivity at the heart of their initiatives.

2. Define the role of Your Wellbeing Champions

To make an impact, your Wellbeing Champions need to have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. Consider what a Wellbeing Champion should represent within your organisation and communicate this clearly through a detailed role specification. Be specific about the impact you expect your Wellbeing Champions to have on employee wellbeing and ensure alignment with your broader organisation strategy.

3. Integrate Wellbeing Champions into the wider HR and business strategy

Wellbeing Champions should not be seen as a standalone resource but as an integral part of your organisation’s HR and business strategy. Strong integration bridges the gap between isolated wellbeing initiatives and broader business objectives. Consider asking senior leaders to publicly support Wellbeing Champions and establishing regular communication between the HR team and your Wellbeing Champions.

4. Provide training for your Wellbeing Champions

Wellbeing Champions need to be set up for success. So, ensure they have a deep understanding of their role and how to make a difference. Initial Wellbeing Champion training should cover:

The role of a Wellbeing Champion
How the role supports the organisation’s wellbeing strategy
The latest research and trends on wellbeing at work
How to create and promote wellbeing campaigns
Available resources

5. Offer ongoing development for your Wellbeing Champions

To keep Wellbeing Champions engaged and up-to-date, it’s crucial that training is viewed as an ongoing process, rather than a one-off event. Ongoing development opportunities will ensure that your Wellbeing Champions keep up with evolving practices and needs. Continuous development could include:

Advanced communication skills
Leading wellbeing campaigns
Personal resilience
Wellbeing in a hybrid world
Digital wellbeing

6. Create opportunities for your Wellbeing Champions to connect

Make sure you create regular opportunities for your Wellbeing Champions to stay connected. Establish a space for them to come together, share success, reflect on challenges, and decide next steps. This could take the form of regular meetings and a dedicated communication channel. By creating a structured network in this way, you will support a greater sense of collaboration and belonging.

7. Recognise the impact of your Wellbeing Champions

Wellbeing Champions are often the unsung heroes of the workplace. Passionate advocates for employee wellbeing, they work tirelessly alongside their primary role. Regular recognition will go a long way to boosting their morale and ensuring their continued commitment.

Conclusion

Wellbeing Champions are committed individuals who want to make a difference. However, all too often, they are not used to their full extent or supported in the way they need. Maximising the potential of Wellbeing Champions takes many forms, but at its core, it’s about recognising the value they bring and supporting them to make an impact.

Wellbeing Champion training and CPD from The Wellbeing Project

Our Wellbeing Champion training goes beyond one-size-fits-all and one-off events. It is designed entirely with your organisation in mind and supports your Wellbeing Champions to deliver long-lasting impact.

Key Features