What if We’re Getting it all Wrong in the Workplace?
Maybe, based on old assumptions and a lack of understanding…
We can only change what we are able to recognize, and it’s high time we look seriously at these numbers. It is not hard to change where we are missing the mark once we look at some basics in numbers, then learn to work with the human body and brain in a way that makes us super productive…But What is Going Wrong?
WHAT IF?
Could it be that workers would naturally thrive and perform at their best if we gave them what they truly need?
The Problem with Current Workplaces
• High stress, low engagement, and toxic environments don’t get the anticipated results.
• Employees are overworked, underappreciated, and undernourished—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
• Businesses assume that profits alone measure success, but they’re ignoring the human cost.
The Cost of a Broken System
• “Did you know only 30% of U.S. employees are engaged at work? This disengagement alone costs the U.S. $450–$550 billion annually.”
• Stress-related productivity losses cost $575 billion each year, and toxic work environments add another $914.7 billion in disengagement and turnover.
• Workplace distractions add up to $650 billion in lost productivity.
Highlighting a New Perspective
• Drawing from holistic health practices, I’ve seen that balance—mental, physical, and emotional—is essential for peak performance.
• Imagine structuring a workplace where everyone’s unique needs were met, fostering flow states and creativity. How much could you accomplish?
What if We’re Getting it All Wrong in the Workplace?
Could it be that we’ve fundamentally misunderstood what it takes for workers to thrive and perform at their best? What if employees would naturally become great performers when given the right tools, environment, and support? Imagine a workplace structured to foster success and mental flow states for people of all backgrounds and personalities—a place where everyone is set up to bring their best to the table.
Over the past 25 years, working with people in holistic health retreats and coaching, one thing has become clear to me: every individual is unique. This realization was only deepened by my bicultural roots, being half European and half Native American, where I witnessed stark contrasts in how my two families approached life. Later, my time studying culture and economics in Washington, D.C., meeting people from all over the world, confirmed it further—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to people.
However, there are common threads that bind us. We all have a nervous system, a gut, a respiratory system, and a body that relies on balance and support to operate effectively. If these systems are neglected, it becomes impossible for someone to perform at their peak. Yet, today’s workplaces seem to do the exact opposite, fostering environments that leave people overstressed, undernourished, and unable to thrive. While legendary profits may suggest success, businesses often overlook the long-term costs of burning out their workforce and missing the mark on human potential.
Disconnected systems—whether in education, business, or the environment—fail when they disregard the humanity of people and the interconnectedness of life. To build a better future, we need to honor both our shared humanity and the earth that sustains us. This shift in perspective won’t just improve individual well-being but will also unleash unprecedented creativity, productivity, and prosperity.
The question isn’t just, “How much money can I make?”
Instead, we should ask, “What kind of world am I building, and how can we work together to do it better?” It will benefit all of us in wildly unpredictable ways.
By addressing these deeper questions, we can create workplaces that support not only profits but also people, paving the way for a more sustainable and successful future.
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