How to Use Employee Engagement to Increase Motivation
I was recently asked to give a short talk on how and why YuMuuv inspires people to be physically active. Looking back at my notes, I realized they explain something every HR team wrestles with: how to use employee engagement to increase motivation for healthier habits. So here it is as a blog post.
Table of Contents
A Heart Rate Belt That Changed My Father's Life
I will start on a personal note. A few years ago, I wrote a card for my father's 50th birthday. It said something like this: you have had a great half-century. My wish is that there are at least as many years to come and that we can spend them together – so here is a heart rate belt as a gift.
That honest card and gift turned out to be an important turning point. My father, who once ran for the Estonian track and field team, had been living a meaningful but quite passive life, as many middle-aged people do. Today he is in great physical shape. When I think about what started the change, the answer is simple: a combination of objective data and social motivation. That combination is exactly what YuMuuv is built on.
Why Staying Active Is Harder Than It Should Be
Objective health data deserves its own post, but a few facts should make each of us think twice. According to the World Health Organization, about 31% of adults worldwide – 1.8 billion people – did not get enough physical activity in 2022, and the share is projected to rise to 35% by 2030.1
In other words, while the world keeps making progress in many areas, we are moving less. I believe a different story is possible, but it requires joint and very conscious action – and workplaces can play a big part.
Three Types of People When It Comes to Motivation
When it comes to social motivation, I have noticed three groups of people:
- Those who do not need extra motivation. You see them outdoors even when it is raining or snowing. Their habits do not depend on anyone else.
- Those who do not want extra motivation. An active lifestyle cannot be forced on anyone, and that is fine.
- Those who have not found their motivation yet. They would like to change, but for one reason or another, activity has not found a place in their daily rhythm.
The third group is by far the largest – and this is where companies can make a real difference.
Why Companies Are in a Unique Position: The 3 Cs
- Contributions. Companies have both money and time to invest. A small investment aimed at people for whom activity is not yet a priority can bring great results – especially when someone in the company is responsible for keeping the topic alive.
- Collectivity. People often spend more time with colleagues than with their families. A workplace is a real community with a shared culture, which makes it a natural place to create social motivation.
- Consistency. A company can keep the topic visible all year round, while motivation in other communities tends to come and go.
How to Put It Into Practice
- Make activity visible. Wearables and apps give people objective feedback on how much they move. Here are the benefits of a fitness tracker.
- Add a social layer. Team and company challenges turn individual data into shared goals and friendly competition. Read why friendly competition works.
- Design for the third group. Use realistic goals and inclusive formats, so people who have not found their motivation yet can succeed. See how to design challenges for non-competitive employees.
- Keep it going all year. One event will not change habits; a steady rhythm will. Start with a 12-month wellness plan.
For more on the engagement side, read our guide on how to increase employee engagement.
Your Effort Can Change Someone's Life
If you, or someone in your company who looks after these topics, would like support in inspiring your people toward an active lifestyle, book a demo and we will come up with a plan together. Your effort can change someone's life for decades – just as a heart rate belt changed my father's.
