First and foremost, I feel blessed that my own family is completely healthy. At the same time, I have noticed recently that my parents' health is really declining. As a child, it weighs heavily on your heart, and it brings significant (caretaking) concerns. It also creates uncertainty, which I see primarily in my parents themselves. And that affects me too.
It is so important to feel healthy and vibrant. I myself experienced a severe burnout when I was 26 and could do nothing at all. I could only lie down and rest. During that time, I discovered how you can truly break yourself. Fortunately, in the years that followed, and to this day, I have learned what helps me regain and maintain my health and vitality. I meditate daily, actively guard my work-life balance, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and enjoy walking in nature to find rest.
However, what has perhaps made the most difference for me is doing work that I find genuinely fun. Having colleagues and clients who inspire me, and feeling that I make a difference for others. And, like any other person, I feel happiest when I work under circumstances that allow me to flourish.
It all sounds so logical and seems like an open door. Yet, it is not always as straightforward as it seems. Just look around you. How many people in your team, in your company, in your environment do work that doesn’t actually inspire them (anymore)? Or work under conditions that overload them so that instead of flourishing, they are busy surviving?
In recent years, I, along with my colleagues Paul Uittenbogaard and Jeroen Post, have developed the EngageUP method. This method inspires people and helps organizations create the optimal conditions for employees to work with vitality and full engagement. Because what turns out? Engagement is the key to getting the best out of people. And thus out of your company.
Engaged people are happier, healthier, and more productive. Engaged people serve customers much better and bring much more positive energy to work. Organizations with engaged employees not only have significantly less absenteeism and turnover; they experience higher customer satisfaction, higher productivity, and higher profitability. And you know what? It's also just a lot more fun.
You might be wondering: how can I easily and clearly understand how to increase the engagement of myself, my teammates, and my colleagues? And what exactly do I need to do to make this happen? This is precisely the missing piece of the puzzle we have for you!
The EngageUP method shows you exactly and clearly how engaged you, your team, and your organization are. And to what extent the current conditions contribute to this engagement. In addition, we have developed numerous interventions that we deploy, very targeted and precisely tailored to your situation, to improve these conditions and thus significantly increase engagement. The result: engaged and healthy people who get the best out of themselves!
We use 5 maturity levels of engagement (see model):
Are you thinking: I want to know more about this? Or are you curious about where your organization currently stands regarding engagement? Ask us about the possibilities and for advice. Feel free to contact us.
We would love to help more people, teams, and organizations work engaged and healthily. Let's be inspired by this World Health Day in our pursuit.
With inspiring and healthy regards,
Arjan ter Linden
