As 2020 comes to an end and we look back at how our lives have changed and the ways we’ve had to adapt, it’s now time to think about what 2021 is going to bring.
Through the 2020 chaos, we’ve learned some valuable lessons to help prepare us for the year ahead. Some people thrived while others experienced extreme loss, some of us experienced a radical paradigm shift in our view of reality. Paradigm shifts cause us to look at things in a different way.
Although there are many unknowns – here’s what we do know – we need to focus on our well-being and wellness to survive and prosper in the new year. Well-Being is the state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress. Wellness refers to the diverse and interconnected dimensions of physical, mental, and social well-being that extend beyond the traditional definition of health.
Employee Wellbeing is one of the top priorities of organizations in 2020 and will continue to be through 2021. Research shows that wellbeing drives worker engagement—organizations with the most engaged employees are 6.7 times more likely to support worker health and safety and 6.8 times more likely to support family life. In 2021, organizations that focus on employee wellbeing by promoting a positive culture and healthy lifestyle, creating an engaging work environment, developing highly effective managers, and building strong working relationships will increase employee engagement, resilience, and performance.
2020 has taught us that it’s time for us to look toward our future as our jobs and skills will definitely change. The COVID-19 pandemic created an abrupt disruption and transformation in demand for digital technology, impacting the way we live and work. This is definitely a good time to consider reinvesting in yourself, so you don’t fall behind. It might be a good time to upskill and develop some new competencies and capabilities to prepare you for the changes in your field and for new career opportunities.
One area that every OD, HR, and LD professional should be an expert in is helping leaders develop skills to promote employee wellbeing, resilience, and agility. Consider a certification from the Institute of Organization Development to gain the skills and the expertise needed to help leaders deal with challenges facing them during the current crisis and help lead culture change initiatives to increase employee engagement through wellbeing strategies.
Dr. Nancy Zentis is the CEO of the Institute of OD, offering online certification programs for those interested in Organization Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, and OD Advanced Skills Workshops for ongoing learning.
IOD is recognized as one of the top organizations offering OD Professional Development – www.instituteod.com.
If you would like more information regarding our OD Certification Programs, please contact us at info@instituteod.com.