As with most organizations, Premise Health takes pride in fostering a culture that prioritizes the well-being and performance of its team members (how we refer to our employees). One way we’ve done this is by developing a Corporate Athlete Program. This transformative four-week experience aims to equip participants with the tools they need to thrive both personally and professionally.
Strategy and Evolution
Corporate Athlete originally was designed as a one-hour session for our director of Client Operations, the person responsible for maintaining client relationships and overseeing their health and wellness solution. They serve as the primary contact for strategic conversations, whether that be operational improvements or expansion opportunities. This training was essential to help them prioritize themselves for once, enabling them to recharge and perform at their best. This initial program introduced the four key dimensions of energy—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—and provided a few tips and strategies for each pillar. It was followed by a 30-day Corporate Athlete Challenge, where participants were encouraged to select one goal they would work to accomplish each day for 30 days.
The program was a success that garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback. In an anonymous post-course survey, participants shared how the Corporate Athlete program positively impacted their work and well-being. Many said it gave them “time and permission to take care of myself,” with one noting, “It helped with stress reduction and made me more productive at work.” Others were inspired by Premise Health’s commitment to employee well-being, describing it as a “huge eye-opener.” Participants also highlighted lasting benefits, such as maintaining work-life boundaries, finding community, and prioritizing overall well-being.
Building on this success, the program has continued to evolve. Today, it has grown into a comprehensive four-week initiative, featuring deeper dives into each energy pillar, interactive sessions, and actionable strategies.
Program Details
Here’s how each week of the program is structured and the key topics covered:
Week 1: Physical Energy
- Fuel for Success: Participants learn how nutrition impacts energy, focusing on balanced macronutrients, eating for sustained energy, meal planning, and hydration tips to boost cognitive and physical performance.
- Moving with Purpose: Interactive activities highlight simple, sustainable ways to add movement into daily routines, from desk stretches to short walks.
- Rest and Recovery: This session emphasizes the value of quality sleep and downtime, offering strategies for better bedtime routines and incorporating micro-recovery breaks to recharge during the day.
Week 2: Mental Energy
- The Power of Mindset: Participants explore how reframing challenges and embracing a growth-oriented perspective can unlock creativity and problem-solving skills.
- Managing Mental Overload: Techniques to reduce distractions, improve focus, and cultivate mindfulness.
- Task Prioritization: Strategies for effective time management and tackling high-priority work without sacrificing mental energy.
Week 3: Emotional Energy
- The Energy of Connection: Fostering meaningful relationships and cultivating empathy in the workplace.
- Emotional Regulation: Practical strategies for managing emotions under pressure and maintaining composure in challenging interactions.
- Gratitude and Positivity: Participants explore how gratitude practices can boost emotional well-being and resilience.
Week 4: Spiritual Energy
- Meaningful Work: How connecting to a sense of purpose can fuel long-term energy and fulfillment.
- Mindfulness and Reflection: Tools for cultivating presence, self-awareness, and clarity in decision-making.
- Aligning Values with Actions: Strategies to live in alignment with personal values for greater satisfaction and peace.
Our executive leadership team sees the value and importance of the program, and they are active participants. Our Chief Operating Officer, Beth Ratliff, serves as our keynote speaker. Her motivational presentation ties together the program’s themes, offering practical advice on sustaining energy, managing priorities, and leading with purpose.
Challenges and Solutions
Launching and scaling Corporate Athlete came with its share of challenges. Initially, we faced logistical issues in accommodating diverse schedules across departments. To address this, we introduced a flexible format, offering virtual participation, session recordings, and breakout groups that worked across time zones.
Another challenge was ensuring long-term engagement and behavior change. To overcome this challenge, we implemented pre- and post-program surveys, encouraged peer accountability through small groups, and designed content around simple, practical strategies that participants could immediately integrate into their daily lives.
Proven Results
The impact of Corporate Athlete is evident, as demonstrated by Level 3 and 4 outcomes:
- Behavior Change: The program has directly contributed to reducing our employee turnover rate by roughly 7 percent. This significant improvement is attributed to enhanced employee satisfaction and development opportunities fostered by the program.
- Engagement and Recommendations: All participants said they would recommend this program to their co-workers.
- Increased Physical Activity: Some 96 percent of participants reported increasing their physical activity as a direct result of the program.
- Improved Work-Life Balance: Participants have shared that the program significantly reduced their stress levels, enhanced work-life balance, and increased productivity and focus at work.
These outcomes underscore the program’s role in fostering a healthier, more engaged workforce while supporting organizational success.
Tips for Other Organizations
For companies looking to create a similar strategy or training program, here are a few key recommendations:
- Start small, then build: Begin with a simple session and measurable challenges to test engagement. Let feedback and results guide program growth.
- Engage leadership: Involve executive leaders as speakers or mentors to reinforce the importance of well-being and set the tone for the organization.
- Make it practical: Focus on actionable strategies participants can implement immediately, such as movement breaks or simple mindfulness exercises.
- Measure and share impact: Use pre- and post-program surveys to track behavior changes and outcomes. Sharing these results can help build momentum for future iterations.
- Create flexibility: Offer virtual options, recordings, and multiple session times to ensure inclusivity and accommodate diverse schedules.
By equipping team members with tools to manage their energy across all four pillars, Corporate Athlete is more than your typical HR program—it’s a movement that transforms lives and drives organizational success.
