Kristin Jonason joined The Prouty Project in 2016. Kristin specializes in the area of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of well-being and human flourishing. She aims to integrate elements, research, and interventions from Positive Psychology into all our client engagements to increase their individual and organizational well-being while improving employee engagement. You can also find her speaking publicly on a variety of topics such as well-being and flourishing, mindset, emotional intelligence, and navigating change.
Prior to joining Prouty Project, Kristin spent two years in Indianapolis working at a software company as part of the Orr Fellowship of Indiana. In addition, Kristin spent six years working with youth at Camp Olson YMCA in northern Minnesota where she wore many hats, eventually becoming assistant director. While there, she developed a deep appreciation of nature and a passion for experiential leadership development. These experiences, in combination with her time at Prouty Project, Kristin brings expertise in facilitation around strategic planning, leadership development, experiential learning, workplace well-being, and employee engagement.
Kristin loves trying new things and is not afraid to stretch herself in out-of-the-box situations. She lives in Minneapolis but is always planning her next big trip. She’s been to over 30 countries (including Antarctica!), always seeking adventure. A few of her highlights are exploring New Zealand by campervan, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, white water rafting 227 miles of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during the 2022 Stretch Expedition, and leading our 2023 Stretch Expedition to Namibia for Desert Elephant Conservation.
Kristin has a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology from DePauw University. In 2023, Kristin will be pursuing her National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) certification through the Mayo Clinic. Kristin is one of our Licensed Practitioners of Insights Discovery.
Literature reviews and research demonstrate that high employee well-being can predict greater customer satisfaction, more productivity, greater profitability, and may influence stock prices. Employee satisfaction can predict revenue, sales, and profits. Happy employees tend to be more cooperative, more helpful, more punctual at work, and have a longer tenure with the organization. Burnout, stress, and anxiety all inhibit employees’ ability to flourish.
The bad news: no individual or organization is immune from experiencing negative side effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the trauma from social and civil unrest and inequities, worker shortages, supply chain issues, and many other societal and individual issues we are facing today.
The good news: we can do something about it by using a variety of researched-backed approaches and recommendations—at an organizational, leadership, and individual level.
AS AN ORGANIZATION:
Create and implement well-being policies and strategies—normalize utilizing them. Consider trying out the 4-day workweek, creating a mental health policy for all team members, allowing for flexible work schedules or hours, or encouraging team members to take time off (e.g. taking a few hours during the workday or allowing for longer periods of time for rest or self-exploration).
Integrate and standardize well-being practices throughout the workday. Try walking meetings instead of standard Zoom or face-to-face meetings. Start each meeting with a few minutes of breathing together or meditation exercises. Ask each person to share one thing they are grateful for that day or encourage standing up and physically moving every 30 minutes— jumping jacks are a great, quick energizer!
Evaluate your team culture, norms, and behaviors. Are you structuring yourselves and the way you work to allow for healthy, sustainable work-life balance for your employees? Are you normalizing breaks, time off, mental health, and self-care? Have you created a safe space for your team members to speak up when they need help? Have you checked in with your team members recently to ask, how are you really?
AS A LEADER:
Get outside. There is a growing body of evidence that accessibility to the natural environment has many positive effects on well-being. Spending time in nature, looking at photos of or out the window at nature, listening to natural sounds like birds chirping or rain, or having access to plants and other greenery can be really good for you. The Greek physician Hippocrates once wisely said, “If you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.”
Use your character strengths. We all have different character strengths that make us unique individuals. When we use our strengths, which are easy, energizing, and essential, we feel re-energized and alive. The more you use your signature strengths that are core to who you are as an individual, the more fulfilled you will feel. Find out your signature strengths by taking the test at here.
Surprise and delight your team members. Many people love a fun and unexpected surprise! The little things add up and can mean a lot. Randomly treat your employees to a free lunch, give them an unexpected day off, write them a note of gratitude, or do something personalized and meaningful to the individual. It can show your employees that you are thinking of them and are doing your part to try to make the situation even 1% better.
AS AN INDIVIDUAL:
Check in with your team members. Be authentically curious with your team members and listen with empathy and compassion to really understand how they are doing and where they are coming from. Do not underestimate the importance of reaching out and checking in—it shows your team that you care, you want to understand, and you want to help.
Ask your team members what they need. Sometimes the solution is easy and right in front of you. Perhaps they need a deadline extension, assistance from another person, the ability to say “no” to another project, or the ability to sign off or start early for childcare. Check and ask if your employee has any creative solutions for the problem or situation they are facing, instead of making assumptions. Keep the dialogue open and focused on solutions.
Practice self-care. You’ve likely heard this over and over again: find the things that make you feel better, and practice them. Self-care is a journey that requires, time, energy, and practice. Make sure you invest in yourself in ways that feel appropriate for you! Exercise. Meditate. Prioritize sleep. Eat well. Allow time for fun and hobbies. Spend time with people you care about. Tap into your spirituality. Read. Seek professional help.
It should be noted that many of these suggestions are temporary fixes and may not address the root cause of burnout, exhaustion, stress, or anxiety. Similarly, different things work for different people. Health and well-being are very personal and individualized. The best thing you can do is show you care, offer ways to help, and try to address and fix the true core of the issues. Evaluate your efforts at all levels to ensure you are doing what you can to take care of your people. They are your biggest asset.
Looking for other more personalized ways to prioritize employee well-being? Reach out to me, let’s chat!
