Community thoughts: What do we mean when we say "thriving at work"?

Every week in our virtual community, we pose a question to the audience related to our mission of improving mental health in the workplace. Last week, we tackled one of the jargon words we often see but that can mean so many different things to different people.

What do we mean when we say “thriving”? And how does it manifest in the workplace in a healthy way?

That second part of the question feels important. We might look like we’re thriving, but under the surface our little legs are struggling to keep our head above water. We might look like we’re thriving, but we’re actually overwhelmed and don’t feel we can say no. We might look like we’re thriving, but we go home to an empty house and have no one to talk to outside the workplace. The concept of “thriving” can actually mask issues under the surface. A culture that pushes for productivity under the guise of “thriving” can become toxic, leading to burnout and stress, among other wellbeing issues.

Our community members chipped in with their thoughts on the question. For them, thriving can mean fulfilling potential and, crucially, being supported to do so. It’s about being able to contribute fully to meaningful work, and to grow as both a professional and a person. 

But the most interesting point (to me) was around the concept of psychological safety. We thrive when we are living not from a place of fear but from freedom - free from judgment, mistreatment, misappropriation - and when we are able to be ourselves without fear of judgment. Belonging was a big factor, too, as was the ability to speak up and make mistakes without fear of being ridiculed.

A work environment that is encouraging, that allows employees to grow and to truly thrive, feels like it would have knock-on productivity and profitability impacts, too. In fact, the definition of “thriving” means to be prosperous, growing, flourishing. So why are there still so many “work hard, play hard” cultures? Why do we still have workers whose feet are kicking frantically under the surface to keep their heads above water?

And what would you do to encourage legitimate, authentic thriving in the workplace? Let us know in the comments below - and join our free virtual community to take part in future debates.

Feature image: Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash