How to Drive Success & Well-Being in the Workplace
Jessica Chesterman (HG, Dip.P) is a psychotherapist dedicated to transforming workplace mental health. As a distinguished Human Givens Ambassador, she specialises in helping individuals conquer depression and guiding couples through relationship challenges.
Ever feel overwhelmed at work? Or find yourself completely drained by the end of the day? Perhaps you've experienced feeling out of the loop with your colleagues or noticed yourself becoming easily and unnecessarily irritable?
These feelings can often signal that some of your fundamental human needs aren't being met at work. The Human Givens therapeutic approach reminds us that we all have core needs, and when these are out of balance, our mental well-being can suffer.
But this isn't just about feeling good; unmet needs have tangible consequences for individuals and organizations alike. Let's take a snapshot view into some of these needs and the data that highlights their importance in your daily work life:
That feeling of unease: The need for security
Think about a time when there were rumors of restructuring at your company. That uncertainty, the feeling that your job might be at risk, taps directly into your need for security. It's that deep-seated desire to feel safe and stable in the environment in which you find yourself. When this need isn't met, it can lead to significant stress, uncertainty, and disengagement. Gallup's 2024 "State of the Global Workplace" reports that highly engaged workplaces, where employees likely feel more secure, see 41% lower absenteeism.
Losing your voice: The need for control
Have you ever been assigned a project with rigid deadlines and little to no say in how you approach it? That lack of control can be incredibly frustrating. It's the feeling of being a cog in a machine, with no autonomy over your work, and when you consistently feel powerless, it can lead to feelings of helplessness and demotivation. Research consistently shows a link between low job control and higher rates of burnout.
Feeling like an outsider: The need for connection to the wider community
Imagine starting a new job and feeling like everyone else is part of an exclusive club. That sense of isolation hits our need for connection to the wider community. We're social creatures, and feeling like we belong and have meaningful relationships at work is vital. If this need isn't met, you might feel lonely, less engaged, and even dread coming to work. McKinsey reports that well-connected teams see a productivity increase of 20–25%, highlighting the tangible benefits of fostering community amongst peers.
Being overlooked: The need for status
Think about pouring your heart into a project only for your contributions to go unnoticed. That can sting, right? It impacts our need for status – the desire to feel valued and respected for what we do. When your efforts aren't acknowledged, you might feel invisible and undervalued. Quantum Workplace indicates that organizations with formal employee recognition programs have 31% less voluntary turnover, demonstrating the power of feeling seen and appreciated.
The treadmill effect: The need for competence and achievement
Have you ever felt like you're constantly busy but not actually accomplishing anything meaningful? Or perhaps you're stuck in a role that doesn't challenge you? This can leave our need for competence and achievement unmet. We need to feel like we're growing, learning, and making progress. In fact, a Haiilo Blog post notes that 1 in 3 professionals cite boredom as a main reason for leaving their jobs.
Providing learning and development opportunities addresses this need and can lead to higher engagement; a Udemy study found that 80% of people felt learning new skills would make them more engaged at work.
"What's the point?" The need for meaning and purpose
Consider those days when your work feels pointless, like you're just going through the motions, and you don’t understand how it contributes to any bigger picture. That can erode your sense of meaning and purpose. We all want to feel that what we do matters, that it contributes to something bigger than ourselves. McKinsey highlights that when employees find their work meaningful, their performance improves by 33% and they are 75% more committed to their organization.
Feeling unseen: The need for emotional connection
Imagine going through a tough time and feeling like no one at work notices or cares. That lack of emotional connection can be isolating. We need to feel that we can offer and receive empathy and understanding. MHFA England reports that 52% of employees feel more engaged and productive when their organisation offers mental health resources, indicating the importance of a supportive emotional environment.
No breathing room: The need for privacy
Think about an open-plan office where you can't have a private conversation or find a quiet space to focus. This can infringe on your need for privacy, those moments for reflection, and personal space that help us recharge. While direct statistics on the impact of a lack of privacy on well-being in the workplace are less readily available, general stress research suggests that a lack of control over one's environment, including personal space, can contribute to increased stress levels.
Feeling ignored: The need for attention
Have you ever raised a concern or suggestion in a meeting and felt like it just disappeared into the void? That can leave you feeling like you haven't been heard, impacting your need for attention. The Haiilo Blog states that 85% of employees take more initiative when they receive feedback in the workplace, demonstrating the importance of feeling seen and acknowledged.
What can you do? What can workplaces do?
The data is compelling: a workplace that overlooks fundamental human needs does so at its own risk, facing decreased engagement, higher stress, and increased turnover.
Conversely, organisations that consciously cultivate an environment where these needs are met are more likely to have a thriving, productive, and resilient workforce.
By understanding these innate requirements and the statistics that underscore their importance, both individuals and organisations can take meaningful steps towards creating a healthier and more fulfilling world of work.
If you want to know how I am supporting businesses to achieve this, then get in touch.
Read more from Jessica Chesterman
Jessica Chesterman, Psychotherapist HG, Dip.P
As a Human Givens Ambassador with 15+ years in corporate enterprise sales, Jessica Chesterman (HG, Dip.P) is passionate about empowering individuals to manage their mental health. Her therapeutic approach, grounded in the latest psychological and neurobiological research, is focused on understanding how emotional needs are met across all aspects of life. By addressing these needs, she aims to help as many people as possible thrive in the workplace and beyond
