The mental and physical wellbeing flow within the People Value Stream

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to consider the mental and physical wellbeing of employees through a lean-inspired People Value Stream lens. Poor wellbeing is a major cause of reduced productivity for organisations and a drain on healthcare services. We develop a conceptual approach as to how the inter‐related spheres of mental and physical health might be dramatically improved through the lean proactive intervention of employees. This requires the creation of a self-reliant wellness approach through focusing on individual’s meaning and goals and their consequent overall wellness and motivation. This involves envisaging their mental & physical ‘flow’ during their career and how the individuals can take control of their own wellbeing with the support of their team and wider organisation. Attention to this flow will help employees to achieve what they want more quickly and effectively with consequent benefits to their team and the organisation. We show how this can be achieved from a conceptual point of view and with a practical example. This is the first flow to be considered in detail within the People Value Stream approach. This provides a framework to rethink completely mental and physical wellbeing from the viewpoint of the individual rather than the organisation.