The key to employee wellbeing in Christian organisations

What is the most meaningful thing you’ve ever done for someone? Think about it. What is it? Park that thought - we’ll come back to it shortly.

Employee wellbeing—or lack thereof—is a massive challenge in Christian organisations at the moment.

I believe there are four things that impact on employee wellbeing more than anything else:

1. Health - how healthy are you physically, spiritually and mentally?

2. People - how healthy are your relationships at work with your boss, your colleagues and the people you serve?

3. Expectations - how clear are your expectations in your role? Both what’s expected of you as KPIs and what’s expected of you day-to-day.

The fourth thing is, in my opinion, the key to employee wellbeing.

So, what is it?

Well, back to my question at the start. What was your answer? For me, my mind immediately goes to the time I was new to being a youth pastor and we had a guest speaker.

I was involved in worship and so I had a great view from the stage of what was happening as teenagers started to respond. I watched as teens put up their hands to make a decision to follow Jesus.

It was an incredible moment.

But then the speaker went on to encourage teens who put their hands up to go to the back of the room so they could chat and pray individually with a leader about their decision to follow Jesus.

I remember seeing there weren’t enough leaders and there was a young guy standing up there alone. He was probably 13 or 14 - and he was tall and lanky, one of those teens who Has a growth spurt at the start of high school and is way taller than most of his friends.

I had other worship leaders with me so I signaled to them I was heading off stage and I put my guitar down and walked up the back to meet this young dude.

After I introduced myself, I asked him if he was recommitting or making a decision for the first time. He said it was a first time decision.

I don’t remember his name. I don’t know where he is now or what he’s doing. And I don’t remember exactly what we prayed and talked about.

But in the next few minutes I had the chance to lead him in a prayer to commit his life to Jesus. I think that was the first time I ever prayed with someone like that and that’s probably why it’s the story that comes to my mind when I think of the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done for someone.

4. Meaning

That’s the fourth thing that affects employee wellbeing and I believe it’s the key.

How much meaning are you experiencing in your role?

And how can you increase the amount of meaning you’re experiencing?

Well, there’s a lot I could say on this topic but I just want to give you one simple thing you can go and do - yourself, with your team or across your organisation - to see an increase in meaning.

Share stories with each other.

Does it sound simple? It might. But it’s incredibly, ridiculously powerful.

Try it! Here’s your challenge, you know that story you thought of before when I asked you what the most meaningful thing is you’ve ever done for someone? I want you to go and share that story with someone and watch, listen and feel what happens.

It’ll do you—and them—some good. And I believe it’s the key to improving employee wellbeing in our workplaces.