3 Lessons learned from launching 500+ vitality initiatives 💡

Dance at your own party 💃

You might know the feeling: you have organised a big staff party, everything has been arranged, the music is playing, but no one is dancing yet. As an HR manager, if you don't appear on the dance floor yourself, your colleagues are unlikely to do so either. Vitality initiatives work the same way. When you actively participate in these initiatives yourself, you set a good example and set a positive tone for the whole team.

Show your commitment by participating in challenges and activities yourself. Create a team and invite employees to join a pedometer competition. Share your progress and enthuse your colleagues by sharing photos of your own achievements through internal communication channels. This way, you can lower the threshold for others to join too. Create an environment where employees can share their goals and successes. For example, organise monthly meetings where everyone can discuss their progress and celebrate successes. This not only increases engagement, but also inspires others to join in. For example, a team lunch where everyone shares their experiences can be an effective way to strengthen team spirit.

Use your own experiences to improve the initiative. By actively participating yourself, you will notice what works and what doesn't. Use these insights to adjust the vitality programme and make it more effective. For example, if you notice that some activities are not catching on as much, you can organise brainstorming sessions to come up with new ideas together with the team.

Pause is power: give breathing space between initiatives 🌬️

You probably recognise it: your previous vitality initiative was a great success and you are excited to launch the next one right away. But just like an athlete who needs rest after intensive training, your employees also need time to recharge. Always schedule a rest period after an intensive vitality initiative. Give employees time to catch their breath again before starting a new initiative. Use this time to gather feedback on the previous initiative and include it in the preparation for the next round. This gives you a chance to organise reflection meetings where employees can share their experiences.

Use the break to launch an exciting teaser for the next vitality initiative. Make an announcement video or send out an inspiring newsletter that hints at what is to come. This arouses curiosity and keeps the energy high. During a monthly update meeting, you can give a sneak peek of the new plans. Consider involving employees in planning the next initiative during the break. Ask for their ideas and suggestions and give them a sense of ownership. This increases engagement and ensures that the programme is even better suited to their needs. Organise an ideas workshop where employees can actively contribute ideas for future initiatives.

There is a lid for every pot 🫙

As an HR manager, you know that not every employee has the same needs when it comes to vitality and health. Some like to run marathons, while others are just starting with a daily walk. It is important to develop initiatives that fit the varying needs and levels of your employees. Segment your initiatives based on different levels of fitness and experience. For the sporty, you can set challenging goals, such as a running competition, while for others you organise a daily walking challenge. This ensures that everyone can participate at their own level. You can send out a survey to find out which activities best suit your employees' needs.

Create a supportive environment where employees encourage each other. Organise group activities or buddy systems in which colleagues can motivate and support each other. This strengthens team spirit and creates more togetherness. An example is a buddy system, in which experienced athletes guide their less active colleagues. Make sure all employees feel seen and appreciated, regardless of their level. Share successes and achievements of different participants in internal communication to show that every contribution matters. This promotes an inclusive culture and encourages broad support for the initiatives. You can send out a monthly newsletter sharing various success stories.

Key Insights

As an HR manager, you play a crucial role in the success of vitality initiatives within your organisation. Your active participation increases your team's motivation, short initiatives with sufficient breathing space give your employees room to stay energised and fresh, and by aligning challenges at different levels you maximise enthusiasm and commitment. Would you like to learn more about setting up a successful vitality initiative and be inspired by our experiences? Let's have a digital cup of coffee together and discover how we can take your organisation to a higher vitality level!