Wellbeing Maturity: Are You Solving the Right Problem?

“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” — Michael Porter

In Today's Issue:

• Why choosing the right wellbeing solution depends on your org’s maturity

• How to know what your people really need (vs what looks good)

• Real-life examples of wellbeing wins..and mismatches

• A simple tip to help you align your next move

• Upcoming sneak peeks!

Why Maturity Matters?

Would you go to the dentist for a broken leg? Of course not. 😂

And yet, many organisations try to solve deep systemic wellbeing and behaviour change challenges with one-off themed days or random novelty workshops they’ve seen on LinkedIn.

As leaders, our role isn’t to tick a box…it’s to challenge assumptions, ask better questions, and lead with intention.

Whether your workplace is surviving, striving, or thriving (see chart below), knowing where you are on the wellbeing maturity journey shapes the type of solutions that will actually move the needle.

The truth? Most UAE companies are somewhere between striving and surviving. That means they know wellbeing matters… but they’re not yet getting results.

If you’re seeing band-aid tactics or ad-hoc programmes with little traction, you’re not alone. The solution? Fit-for-purpose interventions aligned with where your org really is… not where you wish it was.

Are You Meeting Your Organisation Where It’s At?

The best wellbeing leadership strategies match the maturity level of the organisation. When there's a mismatch, even the most well-intentioned efforts fall flat.

Wellbeing leadership means knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to listen. It’s less about introducing more and more about guiding your organisation to what’s right…for right now.

Start by asking:
✔️ What are our engagement scores, sick days, and turnover telling us?
✔️ What are our employees asking for… and are we listening as leaders, or just reacting as implementers?

Some real-life inspired examples:

• If you're in SURVIVAL mode...
  👎 Bad fit: Offering yoga classes during lunch when people are too stressed to take breaks.
  👍 Better fit: Train leaders to reduce burnout drivers and fix workload issues.

• If you're STRIVING...
  👎 Bad fit: More EAP posters around the office (but no cultural change).
  👍 Better fit: Run culture workshops, define roles clearly, and empower wellbeing champions.

• If you're THRIVING...
  👎 Bad fit: Launching a dozen new initiatives without asking what people really need.
  👍 Better fit: Co-create future-of-work strategies with staff and refine existing efforts.

This simple shift is to go from guessing to aligning. 

This is what builds traction and trust.

Practical Tip:

Plot your organisation on the “Surviving–Striving–Thriving” spectrum.

Then ask: What is the smallest shift we could make to move one step forward?

That’s your next best action.

Big News - Save the Dates!

☕ September 25th
Join us for connection, insight, and some fun idea-sharing and problem-solving. Details dropping soon, watch this space!

🎟️ November 20th - Full-Day Event – Waitlist NOW OPEN
Prep is underway for our first full-day transformative experience… and you’re invited to shape it.

 This is the event for bold wellbeing leaders, system-shifters, and culture catalysts.

Spots are limited. Answer a few Qs to join the waitlist today:
👉https://wellbeingleadersme.scoreapp.com/

Sam and I have a few surprises up our sleeve… think we can keep them under wraps ‘til November? 😅

🎙️ Podcast Conversations

That’s a wrap on Season 1 of the Wellbeing Leaders Podcast!

A huge thank you to all our brilliant guests who brought workplace wellbeing to life:

• Sally Duxfield – Stress, decision-making, and the science of sleep

• Sam Browning – Wellbeing in recruitment

• Hannah Wells – Building wellbeing communities with purpose

• Bobbi Hartshorne – Data-driven wellbeing strategy

• Jason Jackson – Leadership behaviours and retention

• Emma Davies – Who supports HR?

• Fatima Alloghani – Emiratization and inclusive wellbeing

Missed an episode? Catch up here:
🎧 youtube.com/@wellbeingleaders

Got ideas or dream guests for Season 2? Hit reply and let us know!