[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/davidI.jpg” custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”595.2px” custom_margin=”|auto|19px|auto||” custom_padding=”467px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”72″ text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”785px” custom_margin=”-98px||0px|||” custom_padding=”||168px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Well-Being Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”149px|0px|1px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/david-ivers.png” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-45px|||||” animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]DAVID IVERS<\/span><\/a>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||20px||true|” global_colors_info=”{}”]David Ivers is from Sydney, Australia. He is a qualified Primary and Secondary School Teacher. In total, he has served on school leadership teams for 16 years in senior leadership roles.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” min_height=”4030px” custom_margin=”-22px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”28px||16px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n I took the one less traveled by,<\/em><\/p>\n And that has made all the difference.<\/em><\/p>\n Robert Frost. The Road Not Taken<\/a><\/p>\n So, the \u2018Festive Season\u2019 is over, and the time has come to implement your professional and personal plans made with gusto and fervor on New Year\u2019s Eve. It must be remembered that it won’t happen just because you gave Santa your \u2018jobs wish list\u2019 or you\u2019ve decided to quit your job. Making such thoughts happen requires action. That is when the rubber hits the road. Sure, the job market is tight, which usually favors the job seeker rather than the employer. That said, there is a correlation between the qualifications and experiences needed for a job and how much it favors the job seeker. A job that might require several years of experience and a qualification at the master\u2019s level restricts the pool of people who might be able to apply. For example, to be eligible for a Principal position with Boston Public Schools requires a Master of Education, a valid Massachusetts School Principal License, and, for international applicants, the right to work in the United States. Pay is usually on a sliding scale in positions with multiple qualifications and experience levels. Likewise, despite the qualifications and experiences being met, there may be an additional requirement of passing an internal examination, often with a pass rate of 70% or better. This is not uncommon for Government-related positions. In other words, deciding to move on from your current employer might have been easy enough, but the logistics and processes of doing so may be more complicated.<\/p>\n Indeed.com’s research on employment trends in 2024 is very revealing. The key takeaways from its report are useful for employers and job seekers alike.<\/p>\n Indeed Editorial Team. (2025). Year in Review: 2024\u2019s Essential Hiring and Workplace Insights<\/a>. Austin. Texas: LEAD with Indeed.<\/p>\n The second \u2018dot point\u2019 on wellbeing could easily be overlooked. In 2023, indeed.com<\/a> commissioned research into workplace well-being. The result from that study is breathtaking. According to the survey: \u2018US Work Wellbeing 2023 Report How Thriving People Create Thriving Companies\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201c71% of workers are not thriving, reporting low to moderate wellbeing at work. 29% of workers are thriving, reporting high wellbeing at work.\u201d (p 5 of 40)<\/em><\/p>\n To clarify,<\/p>\n \u201cFor this study, an employee is \u201cthriving\u201d at work if they indicate having high well-being. By definition, those not thriving aren\u2019t performing at their highest potential. This costs companies, as well as the individuals themselves\u2026We measure employee well-being by looking at four key indicators: happiness, purpose, stress, and satisfaction. This measurement aligns with standards from the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the OECD. We also measure what influences well-being, including foundational, social, and growth needs.\u201d (p 9 of 40)<\/em><\/p>\n Indeed. (2023). US Work Wellbeing 2023 Report: How Thriving People Create Thriving Companies<\/a> (based on a commissioned survey conducted by Forrester Consulting, 2023.). Austin, Texas. Indeed.<\/p>\n It is concerning that we are one-quarter of the way into the Twenty-First Century, and nearly 3 in 10 employees are able to report high levels of well-being in the workplace. What is equally concerning is that Gallup reported something similar on November 4, 2024. In a post on \u2018X\u2019 (formerly Twitter), Mark C Crowley gave this excellent summary of the Gallup report<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cEntirely Missing the Plot:<\/em><\/p>\n 151 Chief People Officers at large companies were asked to define their top 2025 priorities.<\/em><\/p>\n Only 1-in-4 listed employee #wellbeing.<\/em><\/p>\n No surprise, according to the same Gallup survey, only 1-in-5 employees (21%) believe their employer cares about their #mentalhealth or well-being<\/a><\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Mark C. Crowley. (December 27, 2024). Post on \u2018X\u2019 (Formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n In other words, instead of reaching a point where everyone should talk about thriving at work, we are still talking about surviving. The problem is that we spend so much time at work that wellbeing must be on the radar. Why would a leader not want their team to experience \u201chappiness, purpose, (less) stress, and satisfaction\u201d <\/em>at work? With so many studies that point to improved productivity and profitability in organizations where most employees report high levels of well-being, why wouldn\u2019t a leader want to give it a go? If the employees\u2019 well-being is low, does this not make the daily work of the leader harder than it needs to be? Of course, the obvious question that every leader should ask and answer honestly is simple. Would you want your child to work on your team? The second is similar. Would you want your child to work in any other team in your organization? If you can\u2019t answer yes to both of these, then as a leader, you have a moral and possibly, in some jurisdictions, a legal obligation to do something about that.<\/p>\n The statistics from the Indeed, \u2018US Work Wellbeing 2023 Report\u2019 (see p10 of 40), make compelling reading. According to the study, the top 5 items that drive work well-being are: (1). Energy (17%) (2). Belonging (13%) (3). Trust (10%) (4). Accomplishment (10%) (5). Inclusion and Respect (9%). All of these items point towards a two-pronged approach. For sure, well-being is the issue of the moment, according to these studies, but a lack of willingness to take it seriously points to serious problems of culture within the organization. It is worth considering those things that make for a happy workplace. In her excellent article, \u201810 Steps to Supercharge A Wellbeing Culture In Your Team\u2019, Leadership Coach Christina Lattimer identifies the top 5 reasons that drive employee happiness at work.<\/p>\n Happy at Work: The Top 5 Reasons.<\/em><\/p>\n Lattimer, Christina. (2020). 10 Steps to Supercharge A Wellbeing Culture In Your Team<\/a> (in People Development Magazine \u2013 December 27, 2020).<\/p>\n If the culture doesn\u2019t support staff wellbeing, it won\u2019t improve. The more toxic the culture, the more likely it is that attempts to do something about well-being with free pizza lunches and free morning teas to get staff together may seem like window dressing. The cut-switch is, of course, to have a comprehensive, research-based wellbeing strategy outlined above by Christina Lattimer.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”594px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2-7.jpg” alt=”A diverse group of four people sit around a table with a laptop, smiling and engaged in a collaborative work environment. The modern office, with its large windows, sets the scene for leadership to flourish as books and documents spread across the table inspire innovative ideas.” title_text=”A diverse group of four people sit around a table with a laptop, smiling and engaged in a collaborative work environment. The modern office, with its large windows, sets the scene for leadership to flourish as books and documents spread across the table inspire innovative ideas.” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#efefe9″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/4.jpg” alt=”A woman in a business suit, embodying leadership, leans back in her chair with hands behind her head and eyes closed, exuding relaxation. In the background, a glass wall adorned with colorful sticky notes is visible.” title_text=”A woman in a business suit, embodying leadership, leans back in her chair with hands behind her head and eyes closed, exuding relaxation. In the background, a glass wall adorned with colorful sticky notes is visible.” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”1.2%|10%||10%||” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n So, the \u2018Festive Season\u2019 is over, and the time has come to implement your professional and personal plans made with gusto and fervor on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#888888″ text_font_size=”12″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||11.4%|||” custom_margin_tablet=”20px|||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]DAVID IVERS[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”0||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”2200px” custom_margin=”-73px||11px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”84px||1px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Gallup’s research may also be useful in this regard. Gallup offers a list of \u20187 Catalyst Questions\u2019 to ensure that the organization addresses the key areas of well-being.<\/p>\n We’ve identified seven catalysts employers can use to support and change their employees’ well-being behaviors. Each catalyst can address and better support employees across the five elements of well-being.<\/em><\/p>\n Gallup. (2025). The Seven Catalysts of Wellbeing: Partner with employees to boost their wellbeing<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both the Indeed \u2018US Work Wellbeing 2023 Report\u2019 and the Gallup \u2018Despite Employer Prioritization, Employee Wellbeing Falters\u2019 report suggest that employee well-being is not just a one-way street. Employees need to take ownership of their well-being. Taking responsibility for one\u2019s health and well-being is where the well-being journey begins. Support from the workplace is needed to help one move on to Thriving and Flourishing in life, which includes work.<\/p>\n The Health Department for the State of Victoria in Australia provides this useful list of ways to cultivate well-being.<\/p>\n How to achieve wellbeing<\/em><\/p>\n Department of Health (Victoria State Government). (2020). Well-being<\/a>. (Better Health Channel. Melbourne: State of Victoria.<\/p>\n Of course, well-being is contextual. Contextual because everyone will have slightly different and nuanced well-being needs. That said, there will be common areas that overlap. Stress areas are the prominent areas. Think of teachers constantly looking for ways to get the best for their students, nurses and doctors looking to get the best health outcomes for their patients, builders managing the safety of construction sites, and farmers working the land in remote parts of the country. They all highlight how context can often drive the stressor and understand that context can usually tame the stressors. Engaging in activities such as prayer, meditation, mindfulness, visualization, journaling, exercise, etc., can mitigate the negative and accentuate the positives in life.<\/p>\n Irrespective of your context, one goal should be familiar to all. To live life and to live it to the full. This means building strong, durable connections with other people and creating opportunities for yourself and others. Wellbeing is as much a communal activity as it is an individual activity. Life is all-encompassing of others, work, health, wealth, etc. Businesses exist to meet the needs of their customers\/clients. How engaged your staff are goes a long way to the company engaging with the customers. It is about putting people first, which Tom Peters regularly reminds everyone of. His excellent book, \u2018Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism,\u2019 highlights why investing in staff wellbeing is necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cBusiness exists to enhance human wellbeing.\u201d This damn sentence rolls around and around and around in my head. I, really, really buy it. Do you? Do your colleagues? What precisely does this mean in terms of today\u2019s activities? Have I\/we positively contributed to human well-being today? I am fully aware that your day has been about one-damn-thing-after-another. That\u2019s the problem\u2014and the opportunity. Is your human well-being turned on? Are you reflecting on this grand aspiration, which can only be exhibited\u2014or not\u2014in your and your team\u2019s next micro-action?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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