Positive health makes your organization more flexible

At De Verzuimmakelaar, we have been promoting this theory by Machteld Huber for years, and we often include it in our training sessions: Positive Health! This doctrine emphasizes people’s strengths and focuses less on the absence of disease. In these corona times, it is more important than ever before.

By Myrtille van Hout

Positive Health: Six Dimensions
This perspective on absenteeism puts the employee at the center of the choices he or she makes in life—not only in the role of employee but as a human being in their entirety. Positive Health is based on six dimensions: bodily functions, mental well-being, meaning, quality of life, social and societal participation, and daily functioning. The emphasis is placed on resilience, self-direction, and adaptability. This makes it much easier to discuss bottlenecks: what can and does someone want to tackle themselves, and where is help needed?

Preventive Approach
If you start working with this tool, you will notice that it provides good tools to really get employees moving. This could be in the area of health, for example, ‘I’ll take the bike more often.’ Or work-related, ‘I would actually like to take on a project myself.’ It can also lead to self-insight, ‘I’m going to talk to HR about my future within the company.’ In fact, it is a very simple and inexpensive way to focus on prevention. The only things it costs are time, attention, and conviction.

Lifelong Learning and Development
Giving employees self-direction and responsibility is a hot topic. It makes sense, because ultimately the development of the employee lies with him or herself. The government also encourages it: lifelong learning and development. In practice, the better an organization develops, the more flexibly it can grow. So start today to make your organization more flexible for the future.

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