The Five Essential Elements of Wellbeing

Laurel Kjersten

Associate Consultant

Gallup Consulting

twincities@gallup.com

www.gallup.com

Topic: Leadership

“What makes life worthwhile?”

The varying answers to this question are what spurred Gallup’s research into finding what defines a well-lived life. More recently — in partnership with leading economists, psychologists, and other acclaimed scientists — Gallup began to explore the common elements of wellbeing that transcend countries and cultures.

Gallup conducted a comprehensive global study of more than 150 countries, providing insight into more than 98% of the world's population. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, Gallup asked hundreds of questions about health, wealth, relationships, jobs, and communities. These results were compared to how people experience their days and evaluate their lives overall.

Upon completing this research, five distinct statistical factors emerged. These are the universal elements of wellbeing that differentiate a thriving life from one spent suffering. They describe aspects of our lives that we can do something about.

The Elements

These five elements are the basic currency of a life that matters. They do not include every nuance of what's important in life, but they do represent broad categories that are essential to most people.

• The first element is about how you occupy your time or simply liking what you do every day: your Career Wellbeing.

• The second element is about having strong relationships and love in your life: your Social Wellbeing.

• The third element is about effectively managing your economic life: your Financial Wellbeing.

• The fourth element is about having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis: your Physical Wellbeing.

• The fifth element is about the sense of engagement you have with the area where you live: your Community Wellbeing.

While 66% of people are doing well in at least one of these areas, a mere 7% are thriving in all five domains. If someone is struggling in any of these domains, it damages his or her wellbeing and wears on that individual’s daily life.

One interesting finding from this comprehensive wellbeing study is that the Career Wellbeing element is the most essential element to overall wellbeing. Whether you realize it or not, companies are already in the business of managing employee wellbeing.

Even if you have never thought about your employees’ wellbeing as a part of your company’s business, every individual’s wellbeing is critical to achieving your organization’s goals and fulfilling its mission. In every organization, people don’t show up, they don’t give their best effort, they erode productivity, and they cost the organization millions of dollars in healthcare costs because of poor health. However, you also have employees who engage their colleagues and customers, generate new ideas, and save your organization thousands of dollars in healthcare costs because they take responsibility for their health.

The wellbeing of your employees can be measured, managed, and quantified, and it’s invaluable to do exactly that.

For more information on measuring and managing wellbeing, please contact twincities@gallup.com.

Laurel Kjersten is an Associate Consultant for Gallup.

2010-08-03 23:00:00 -0600