Leading Well: A Monthly Blog for Developing as A Wellness Leader

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom” – Socrates

Wonder is inherently an experience of the extraordinary. We are at one humbled and awed. This could be the feeling that comes from looking out at a vast ocean or up at a vast night sky filled with stars. Or holding your newborn child for the first time. In that moment, something grater connects us. That feeling of extraordinary. But wonder in its essence is a priceless capability that we already have within us. We do not need to wait for majestic moments to experience wonder.

The Benefits of Wonder at Work

Perhaps you haven’t considered the impact of wonder in the workplace. Maybe wonder doesn’t even seem to belong. But as Socrates so wisely stated, ” Wonder is the beginning of wisdom” and I think we can all agree there is a place for wisdom in the workplace. But encouraging wonder benefits the organization beyond just creating the foundation for wisdom. For example, did you know that positive awe promotes prosocial behaviors, such as less stereotyping and more volunteering? It also sharpens our brains and motivates ecologically conscious behavior. And, it awe also is important for wellbeing. It facilitates less inflammation and greater wellbeing and satisfaction. A study by the Wisdom Works Group measured six dimensions of wellbeing-driven leadership with close to 1,000 leaders worldwide. The study found that leaders scoring high in wonder were also more likely to report:

leading from an inspiring vision, purpose and values to guide their decisions;
greater resilience during stressful times;
wellness behaviors, such as eating, moving, resting and breathing, to manage their energy and stress; and
a deep motivation to energize and maximize the talents of people and teams—essential capabilities for building and leading thriving workplaces.

This month we’re exploring how wonder to develop wonder in your life and leadership.

Global Wellness Institute recommends the following actions to develop wonder:

1) As a Wellness Leader, lead your team in wonder

Shake up the normal. How can you change the routine of your workday? Can you take meetings outside for a walk instead of stuck sitting at a desk all day? How can you bring levity to the workday. Too often we take ourselves and our tasks too seriously at work. It’s not to say that work isn’t serious, but we need to balance our responsibilities with lightness.

2) Wonder as part of the workplace

Ask constructive questions. When discussing something ask what also might be true? This opens up different perspectives. It also invites collaboration, diversity of thought and inclusion. Companies increasingly want innovation and problem-solving from their teams, but a pre-cursor to innovation is wondering and opening up to what is possible, what else might also be true.

3) Get strategic

The pandemic has disrupted much of our traditional ways of working, interacting and even our daily routines. Use wonder to explore how this presents an opportunity for the organization – ask what radical wellness opportunities is it now time to embrace? For instance, maybe its time to consider self-care in the workplace, to address burnout, work-life balance and other topics to better help employees meet the challenges facing them right now. Or perhaps it’s time to create a wellness sabbatical policy.

4) Wonder from begins within

Too often we wait for the world to stimulate wonder. We look to the stars or the ocean. But how can you bring more attitude to your life, rather than waiting for life to amaze you? What are moments of everyday awe? Every day your heart keeps beating and your lungs keep breathing without any conscious involvement by you. We as humans have the ability to create wonderfully fulfilling and nutritious meals. Meals can be an art form for us, unlike with other species.

5) How to prioritize wonder

Brainstorm activities that bring out wonder in you. Write the list down into different categories – maybe annually, quarterly, monthly, daily. Perhaps a trip may be an annual opportunity, whereas maybe you can get out in nature monthly – both travel and nature connect us to wonder. Look at your list and schedule these activities on your calendar. This can also be a great team exercise to do as a team and create team activities that can be done annually, quarterly, monthly and even daily. Such as maybe a moment of wonder check-in at the start of each day or a the beginning of a team meeting, where team members can share something wondrous.

Summary

Wonder belongs in both wellness and in the workplace. It’s essential for creating essential capabilities for building and leading thriving workplaces. Ask yourself what radical wellness opportunities is it now time for our workplace to embrace? Note: I am an Ambassador of the Global Wellness Institute and this blog series on Wellness Leadership is based on their Wellness Moonshot. An initiative to rid the world of preventable diseases.