What Companies Get Wrong About Retention, Connection and Engagement…and Why CrossFit Might Be the Answer

In this issue: What Companies Get Wrong About Retention, Connection, and Engagement…/ I’ve spent years studying happiness – here’s what actually makes for a happier life / Following a healthy lifestyle may reduce risk of long COVID / The Lighter Side of CrossFit

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I'm Andrea J. Miller and this is my “On Leading Well” Newsletter. I send this to people in my networks, people I’ve met recently, and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can unsubscribe (SEE THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL) anytime, I won’t be offended.

What Companies Get Wrong About Retention, Connection, and Engagement…and Why CrossFit Might Be the Answer

Recently, I (finally) made it back into the gym after a very extended COVID hiatus.

I joined a CrossFit-type place…all weights, loud music, and lots of enthusiastic screaming.

It’s been an interesting (euphemism for painful) experience.

Before joining, I’d been a regular pre-COVID gym-goer but, never understood why people pay what seemed like an insane amount of money to torture themselves.

Until now.

I tell you this not to brag about my latest experiment in self-abuse (ok, maybe a little :), but because I finally get it and that “it” has the potential to have a major impact on your company’s employee engagement, innovation, and retention.

For those rolling their eyes, I understand, as I sit here in my post-workout euphoric pain.

It’s definitely not for everyone, but for the willing and interested, the benefits are numerous.

And, more importantly for companies, the connection created along with the muscles, sweat, and pain is real.

Smelly Teams Work Smarter

Pressing the send button to join the program felt really intimidating.

Strength training is a new and uncomfortable space for me in many ways.

I’d always been a cardio person and hadn’t even been doing that in a meaningful way for several years.

And I also knew I’d likely be one of the older people in this predominantly twenty-something group.

But these were just excuses.

Strength training has important benefits for both the mind and body.

Like our brains, our muscle mass starts to shrink in our 30s (3–8% per decade after the age of 30), which isn’t surprising given how interconnected the two are.

Our skeletal muscles are endocrine tissue, which means that they can signal other parts of our bodies —including the brain— to tell us how to behave and change in certain ways.

This makes our brain health somewhat dependent on our ability to keep our muscles moving and strong:

Strong Muscles = Strong Brains.

So, it’s not surprising that research shows that we can improve our cognitive ability by increasing exercise that builds muscle mass.

No matter what age, even moderate amounts of exercise have been shown to increase the size of the hippocampus, which plays a big role in learning and memory and as mentioned, shrinks as we age.

Additionally, there’s evidence that suggests that it may also play an important role in protecting neurons against age-related decline.

Okay, so this somewhat painful process (thankfully I don’t need to lift my arms to type :) can make us smarter, but what about that all-important connection and retention that I promised?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Pull-up Bar

Doing even an assisted pull-up is humbling particularly when you have no idea what you’re doing :).

In my first class, I was paired with an “old-timer” (2+ years at the place) and several years younger than me.

He was kind and patient with this newbie…and I think more than a bit (justifiably) proud of what he’d accomplished since joining.

Taking on new challenges can create a different dynamic.

No matter where you are in your company’s pecking order, if you’ve never done something before and you’re a beginner, none of the usual things matters…not your age, gender, or title.

All that matters is you’re willing to try, give it your all, and laugh at yourself (not others).

This can make it much easier to form friendships among the most unlikely of people on this newly leveled playing field.

Which, according to the data, can not only increase retention but also improve workplace productivity.

This is because friends are more committed, communicate better, and encourage each other, which leads to increased job satisfaction.

Think about it, you spend 81,396 hours, approximately nine years at work, wouldn’t you rather spend that time with people you like?

So just to recap, strength training makes you stronger, smarter and can help you make new friends…not a bad overall ROI.

Of course, like in all things in life, there are no guarantees. 

All I can say is that despite the pain, I want to keep going back to the disco lights, loud music (it’s a definitely unique place :), and supportive screaming that make me feel like I can achieve anything.

Don’t you want that same feeling for the people who you work for and with too?

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RECOMMENDED LISTENS, READS And other interesting things

I’ve spent years studying happiness – here’s what actually makes for a happier life

Here are some of the important things the author learned on his journey to happiness.

Following healthy lifestyle may reduce risk of long COVID

Women who followed most aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including healthy body weight, not smoking, regular exercise, adequate sleep, high-quality diet, and moderate alcohol consumption, had about half the risk of long COVID compared with women without any healthy lifestyle factors, according to a new study.

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The Lighter Side of CrossFit

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Executive Coaching Office Hours (EXCLUSIVE FOR READERS)

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Click the link to schedule a time.

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Are there any other subjects you want me to cover? Hit “Reply” and tell me!

I love hearing from you :)!

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Andrea J. Miller

+1 (646) 556-5401 (Whatsapp)

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