3 promote wellbeing

60 mins

Topics: Managing your energy and creating a foundation for your own wellbeing, managing wellbeing in the system, wellbeing agreements and expectations

AT THE START OF THE SESSION

5 MINS | 0-5

Check your own emotional state.
Create and maintain a safe space.
Consider taking a minute of silence and eyes closed (or soft focus) to create a mindful space and help everyone be fully present in the session.

SET EXPECTATIONS

Today’s topic is about promoting wellbeing. We will reflect on what costs us energy and what gives us energy, and our individual energy flow throughout the day. We will discuss how we can share our personal energy needs with the team, and how we can be more present and support each other's energy needs in order to take care of wellbeing across the whole system we work in.
We will look at ways to orient toward what is working and to acknowledge progress. Plus we will consider the expectations and wellbeing agreements we want to set together.

SHARE SOME EXPERIENCES FROM THE PAST WEEK

15 MINS | 5-20

If you would like a reminder of what was covered last week, you can find a summary of the 'Your Brain and Others' session here (in 'Topic Summaries' under the 'Resources' dropdown).

- How did you support yourself before going into an environment that might feel threatening (e.g., use ABC or otherwise support yourself)?
- Who had 1-1 conversations to create agreements around reducing threats and increasing rewards? How did those go?
- How did we choose to create more positivity in our team?
- How do we accidentally create threat reactions in others?

Have each person share as much as they are willing to and try to create a discussion between team members if possible.

PROMOTE WELLBEING

30 MINS | 20-50

Now we will turn to the first Mercy Corps management practice: Promote Wellbeing.

The first video will introduce the practice, as well as what costs us energy and what gives us energy, and how that can differ from person to person. We will look at how each of us can better manage our energy throughout the day, and how to support ourselves, and each other, to prevent burnout.

8:19 MINS

Energy Management

GROUP DISCUSSION

Our personal energy needs will differ from each other and vary depending on where you live and work. In your case...

What costs you energy?
What gives you energy?
When is your capacity lowest and highest during the day?
How can we better manage our energy throughout the day, individually and as a team? How can that inform how we plan our work and day?
What agreements do we want so we can share our personal energy needs, and support each other’s energy needs?

4:49 MINS

Click here click here to open the video in a new window for full-size view

Promote Wellbeing Together

(⬆ watch older version in English)

Maximize Video

4:33 MINS

Promote Wellbeing Together

FOR NEXT TIME...

What has resonated with you from today's session? What would you like to practice in the next week?

Here are some suggestions:
- Actively manage your energy – consume food and drink that boosts your energy for longer, take breaks when your PFC capacity is low.
- Pay attention to how others are doing around you. Check in with them if they seem stressed, or overwhelmed, or more reactive than normal.
- Take time to focus on what is working well, and to acknowledge progress, for yourself and with others. Write down what is going well and share it!
- Continue to practice your new personal wellbeing habits, and speak up as needed to help the group implement wellbeing agreements and boundaries.
- See Practice Moments for more suggestions.

PRACTICE MOMENTS

1-1 MEETINGS

- How do you manage your schedule and your energy to look after your own wellbeing?
- What is your focus when you meet with others? Do you orient more towards seeing problems or towards what is working?
- How can you celebrate milestones and acknowledge progress during 1-1 meetings?
- How can you use 1-1 meetings to look out for ways to support others, emotionally or practically, and to offer that support?

TEAM MEETINGS

- How stressed is the team?
- How much does the team currently look out for each other’s wellbeing or signs of burnout?
- How can you ensure that energy management and promoting wellbeing are prioritized during team meetings?
- How can you ensure that wellbeing agreements are honored and given voice during team meetings?
- How can you help the team to focus during team meetings on what is working and acknowledging progress?

ON-BOARDING

- Share the wellbeing agreements you have in your team.
- How can you help new people to build awareness of their personal energy needs, and how those needs are being affected in their new position at Mercy Corps?
- How can you help new people to share their energy needs with you and with their team?

PROMOTING WELLBEING IN ACTION

Promoting Wellbeing in Action: Alakiaz in Lebanon

Maximize Alakiaz in Lebanon

Promoting Wellbeing in Action: Christian in Colombia

Maximize Christian in Colombia

Promoting Wellbeing in Action: Tassa in France

Maximize Tassa in France

Promote Wellbeing Roleplay: Guatemala Team

Maximize Guatemala Team

Promoting Wellbeing in Action: Women of Mercy Corps Indonesia

Maximize Women of Mercy Corps Indonesia

Promoting Wellbeing in Action: Hugh in Nigeria

Maximize Hugh in Nigeria

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Mindfulness

Avoiding Burnout

Things to Think About

If we can catch the signs of burnout early we can prevent it from escalating.
How can we keep an eye out for the early signs of burnout?
How do we want to check in with colleagues who are showing these signs?

Serotonin

Be Present

Things to Think About

What will help us to stay tuned in to each other's wellbeing needs? How would we like people to reach out and offer support – either emotionally or practically?
How can we help each other orient towards what is working well and regularly acknowledge progress?
What agreements would we like to set, to help us support both our individual and collective wellbeing needs? What boundaries are important to have in place?

KonTerra Employee Assistance and Resilience Program

Recognizing the challenges humanitarian and development employees face, Mercy Corps is committed to providing the best support possible to you. This specialized Employee Assistance and Resilience Program is uniquely designed for development and humanitarian workers with resources to balance your work and life effectively.

The key benefits of the EARP include:

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Via email, app, and telephone.
Access to individual consultations - You have access to six consultations per event, per year, on a range of topics including stress, resilience, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges and more.
Work-life balance support – Consultation, educational information and qualified referrals are available to you in a number of areas, including child care, elder care, and legal and financial expertise.
Confidential – While Mercy Corps will receive utilization statistics on the number of people using the EARP, no personal, identifying information will be disclosed. No one at Mercy Corps will know that you have accessed support unless you choose to disclose this.
No cost to you – There is no cost to employees.

Acces Konterra on the web

FACILITATOR’S POST-SESSION REFLECTIONS

How did I support wellbeing and energy management in this session?
What do I need to do myself to increase my wellbeing and model that for the team?
What can I do regularly with my team to support their energy management and build an ongoing foundation of wellbeing?
How can I find out about each of my team members’ personal energy needs and support them to make sure those needs are met?
How can I help my team members to stay aware of the early signs of burnout, and to support each other in preventing burnout?
What can I do to celebrate reaching milestones, acknowledge progress, and foster an orientation towards what is working well, with individuals and as a team?
How can I support the team to successfully implement and practice the new wellbeing boundaries and agreements we set today?

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