How can we position wellbeing to senior leadership?
I’ve heard this objection many times over the years, and it’s understandable. Convincing senior leaders to invest in wellbeing can feel like an uphill battle, especially when they’re focused on immediate, measurable outcomes like profitability and operational efficiency. The challenge lies in shifting their perspective from seeing wellbeing as an optional extra to recognising it as a strategic advantage that boosts performance, retention, and company culture.
Give me an example
Let’s take a tech company that’s scaling fast. The leadership team is laser-focused on hitting growth targets, and any talk of wellbeing might seem like a distraction. But what happens when burnout sets in? Talented employees, the ones driving that growth, start leaving. Replacing them costs time, money, and momentum. What if, instead of firefighting these issues after the fact, the leadership had been proactive in building a wellbeing strategy? The result would be a healthier, more resilient workforce, able to sustain high performance over the long term.
Where has this happened?
Consider the example of a major consultancy firm. In 2021, their senior leadership initially resisted wellbeing efforts, citing concerns about costs and time. However, after introducing a wellbeing programme focusing on mental health and resilience, they saw a 23% increase in employee engagement and a 17% reduction in absenteeism within the first year. Research from the CIPD (2023) also shows that companies with strong wellbeing initiatives experience up to 27% higher profitability, highlighting the tangible benefits of investing in employee wellbeing.
Have you tried asking them?
To win over senior leadership, the key is to speak their language—business outcomes. Frame wellbeing not as a soft or secondary initiative but as a strategy to protect their most valuable asset: people. Demonstrate how improved employee wellbeing leads to fewer sick days, higher engagement, and better performance. Present data that shows how wellbeing impacts the bottom line, and position it as part of a long-term strategy to attract and retain top talent. Focus on the Value of Investment (VOI), not just Return on Investment (ROI). Wellbeing isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about building a thriving company.
Let’s talk…
If you’re struggling to sell wellbeing to senior leadership, let’s explore how we can craft a business case that speaks to their priorities. We can highlight the data, show the benefits, and make wellbeing a key part of their strategic objectives. Reach out, and together we’ll create a compelling, evidence-based narrative that makes leadership sit up, take notice and participate.
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