Wellness Managers Gain Support From Leaders With Health Enhancement Systems New Guide

MIDLAND, Mich. - Dec. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- With the release of its newest Need to Know checklist and slideshare presentation, Health Enhancement Systems provides corporate wellness professionals valuable insights for gaining upper management support. As founder and President Dean Witherspoon explains, 10 Ways to Turn Your Organization’s Top Leaders Into Wellness Champions (http://www.hesonline.com/employee-wellness-products/free-stuff/needtoknow/topleaders) outlines the dos and don’ts of getting a company’s VIPs behind employee wellness.

“Support for worksite health promotion varies widely among upper management,” notes Witherspoon. “It’s critical for wellness professionals to know how to garner cooperation from leaders holding a wide array of attitudes toward their services.”

10 Ways to Turn Your Organization’s Top Leaders into Wellness Leaders Into Wellness Champions (http://www.hesonline.com/employee-wellness-products/free-stuff/needtoknow/topleaders) gives practical advice on how to handle everyone from the marathon-running SVP to the budget-cutting CFO, such as these tips:

• Recognize their needs. What are managers’ perceptions, apprehensions, and expectations surrounding the wellness program? You may need to educate them in the economics of prevention or the influence of health and work environment on productivity. Gauge their level of excitement and commitment to program success.

• Deal with resistant managers at their level of acceptance. Does a manager actively oppose the program? Listen to the concerns and attempt to act on any recommendations. With more lukewarm opposition, focus on areas where managers may be open to providing at least modest support.

• Give enthusiastic managers tools to become cheerleaders. Which managers are most supportive? Pair those who recognize wellness as a business strategy with more zealous “health nut” peers. Together they can be examples of positive behaviors and share their enthusiasm. Provide these teams with ongoing guidance, resources, and easy-to-implement ideas. Update them on new, leading-edge information. With your support, they’ll become strong wellness champions.

“Some people may be highly discouraged by a manager who isn’t fully behind an employee wellness campaign,” explains Witherspoon. “But we believe being able to meet the concerns of these managers and eventually get them on board is an important skill in any wellness professional’s career.”

For more information, download 10 Ways to Turn Your Organization’s Top Leaders into Wellness Champions (http://www.hesonline.com/employee-wellness-products/free-...).

Health Enhancement Systems creates employee wellness programs for organizations in North America and throughout the world. More than 20 effective, engaging HES wellness campaigns have been adopted by over a thousand organizations — serving hundreds of thousands of participants successfully.

Visit http://www.hesonline.com or call 800.326.2317.