Wellness Models & Role Of New-Age Leadership

Along with all else, COVID-19 has changed the hues and challenges of leadership substantially and perceptibly. The concept of a VUCA world exists since way before the pandemic hit, but making sense of recent, radical and unprecedented disruptions across levels – individual, enterprise and world – is going to need and forcibly seed serious changes, both subtle and pronounced. The pandemic has just blitzed urgency by openly exposing cracks and chasms in our thinking, attitude and approach to work, home, wellness, in general, and life, in particular. It has been a great leveller in reminding us that at the bottom of it all, we are humans first.

To be honest, some of these changes are long overdue and this exposure a matter of time and trigger. Borne out of a certain degree of complacency and convenience, some work-life models have been left wanting in due attention and effort in terms of remoulding, renewing and meaningful assimilation. Wellness is one of them. Wellness is what experienced the biggest hit and need for support in the year gone by. It still needs nurturing.

While many models and aspects of the business have been constantly evolving and being explored at scale over the years, the same cannot be said to be equally true of wellness. The (convenient) inertia of fully understanding and exploring the true concept of ‘Wellness’ and ‘Wellbeing’ – as being inextricably interlinked and being the non-alienable essence of creating, driving, and unleashing human potential – has, up until now, only served to largely perpetuate approaches centred around a rather limiting concept of ‘employee engagement. Most “initiatives/interventions” under this model can better be described as behaving rather ritualistic, transactional, momentary, and passive. Not a dynamic way of approaching wellbeing and wellness which hinge on many interwoven factors (mental, physical, emotional, social, financial, and occupational) and which are in a constant state of flux in response to the ebb and flow of life.

So, are there more evolved Wellness models that leaders need to explore and adopt? Are they willing?

My takeaways from the recent invite-only webinar I conducted of CXOs and Leaders from different corners of the world and industries, leave me positive and hopeful. Their willingness to partake in a thought process, I believe, has the potential to be a potent basis to (re)designing more impactful and meaningful future Wellness models, and help redefine leadership roles was encouraging. Their openness to answer questions raised was heartening. It was also warming to see the human and vulnerable aspects of leaders and leadership lessons being shared more openly than ever before, as they revealed their recent challenges and what they foresee as a way forward.

It is clear.

Wellness models definitely need a deeper and urgent rethink and better leadership buy-in.

To lead with purpose, agility, vision, and humaneness (which COVID-19 demanded and will continue to), leaders have to assign Wellbeing a more robust, centre stage status, along with all other aspects of the business (production, sales, marketing, business development, etc.). This will require ongoing Individual, Leadership, and Corporate behavioural evolution and commitment because the challenges are far from over.

About Vani Pahwa

Vani B. Pahwa is Health & Wellness Evangelist, and Founder, Body In Motion, who specializes in Functional-Fitness, and Cancer Exercise & Rehabilitation. With almost 2 decades of experience, and certifications from leading internationally-accredited and globally-recognized fitness institutions, Vani is the leading Wellness Expert for Multinational Corporations and is a recognized Speaker and Coach. An Indian Classical Dancer, Vani encompasses her learnings from dance to everyday movement making “exercise and training for life, not just events.” To know more about Vani and her premium wellness services, visit https://www.bodyinmotion.in