Meet Coach
how do you get fit employees to join your accessible vitality program?
Do you ever wonder how to offer something for all the different employees in your organization? From experienced athletes to beginners; on the one hand, you want it to be challenging enough for the starter; on the other, you don't want a vitality program to feel too approachable for already sportive employees. Sports enthusiasts can be unmotivated and less enthusiastic than you had hoped. To get them on board, you need to make sure they can transfer their passion for sport to someone else.
Time to read: 5 minutes
At a time when the focus on health and well-being in the workplace is increasing, it is essential to actively involve employees in vitality programs. Fit employees play a crucial role here, as they not only set an example for others but can also act as mentors and motivators. In this blog, we will discuss three effective strategies to engage fit employees who already exercise a lot and may not initially feel the need for a low-threshold sports program in your new vitality initiative, with the aim of creating a healthier and more engaged work environment.
Step 1: Make them the organization's Personal Trainer
Athletes already stimulate and motivate themselves every day. Even on days when they want to drop out, they try to overcome their negative thoughts. The pride and satisfaction this gives them after overcoming high barriers makes them too happy to share or hand over to others. As a result, they are happy to motivate others to experience that same feeling. They like to take others along with their energy, wanting to convince others also to try their favorite sport and become a better version of themselves just like them. By having them join a vitality program, they can automatically take on the role of "personal trainer" or "personal motivator", making them enthusiastic participants in the program as well.
Step 2: Connect a "personal trainer/coach" to a team
By giving a fit employee the role of coach or motivator for each small team within your company, we create a system of peer support that increases engagement. These fit employees act as inspirational examples and motivate others to improve their health and well-being. It is crucial to communicate this initiative clearly. An enthusiastic email, prominent posters in the office or other visible announcements can help spread the idea and identify the fit employees as points of contact. When employees know who they can go to for advice and motivation, they feel more supported and encouraged to take action. This not only increases participation in the vitality program but also contributes to a positive corporate culture where employee well-being is central.
Step 3: Create a good division within a team
An effective way to evoke a coaching role is to pair fit employees with less fit colleagues within a team. Through this partnership, fit employees see themselves as a personal trainer for their partners, guiding and motivating them to achieve their health goals. This not only creates a sense of responsibility and commitment among fit employees, but it also strengthens the bonds between them within the team. It creates a culture of support and cooperation where everyone is encouraged to be themselves.
By turning your fit employees into personal trainers, organizations can increase employee engagement and motivation and create a healthy and productive work environment. The realization that success depends on the motivation and commitment they convey to others encourages fit employees to motivate and support their colleagues. If every employee is actively involved in vitality programs, organizations can foster a culture of health and well-being that not only benefits individual employees but also improves overall team performance and well-being.
