{"id":9606,"date":"2021-07-20T11:05:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T11:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9606"},"modified":"2022-08-31T10:10:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T09:10:35","slug":"employee-book-club-team-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.co.uk\/blog\/business-tips\/employee-book-club-team-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"How An Employee Book Club Can Benefit Your Teams’ Wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2021, businesses understand that to attract the best talent, you need to provide a fun, engaging workplace. Of course, there are many other factors, including wages, career progression and professional development. But employee wellbeing initiatives are now a regular consideration for new applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only can they make your business a more attractive place to work, but they can also increase employee retention and improve productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Gallup survey<\/a> found that \u200b\u200bIn high-turnover organisations, highly engaged business units achieve 24% less turnover. Low-turnover organisations saw even more dramatic gains, with highly engaged business units enjoying 59% less turnover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The rise of the employee book club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following the shift to working from home, businesses have begun to explore ways to keep their employees engaged outside the office. Above all, businesses want to provide a sense of camaraderie that can be lost in the shift to remote work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

89% of workers at companies that support wellbeing initiatives are more likely to recommend their company<\/a> as a good place to work. But with so many wellbeing initiatives out there, you might be wondering where to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a confession to make – until recently, I’d always assumed book clubs were for older, retired people, not quite sure what to do with their time. But I reconnected with a friend recently and they casually brought up that they’d joined a book club at work. The friend even recounted a fiery (but respectful) exchange they’d had with a colleague about the latest book, in which they debated the merits of the unique writing style for fifteen minutes straight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I admit I was intrigued. And after some digging, it turns out the employee book club has made something of a resurgence lately. I was startled to realise that it’s not even a new fad; in fact, it’s existed in some form for over fifty years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Employees<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How employee book clubs strengthen company culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Create connections between teams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Book clubs are a great way to help bring members of your company together who might not otherwise connect. Helping to facilitate those connections strengthens the overall cohesion of your organisation<\/a>; which is essential to approaching challenges as a unified team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, building a cohesive team is easier in an office environment, particularly when you\u2019re a small business. But if you operate on a remote or hybrid model, bringing different teams together can be challenging. Consequently, you can end up with team members who don\u2019t even know others exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An employee book club is a great way to bring like-minded people together who would have no professional reason to interact. Think of a reading club as a digital breakout space – like the lunchroom in an office where people can mingle in a social setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Broaden your collective horizons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone in your team will have their own unique interests. Sharing those interests through the books they read allows your team to find common ground. Perhaps more importantly, it allows everyone to discover new topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diversity is a strength in any team. But that diversity only works when everyone is willing to understand the other person’s experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sense of being heard is essential to reinforcing positive self-worth. Above all, it encourages a feeling of belonging within the wider team. And that belonging translates to added productivity; employees who feel heard are 4.6 times<\/a> more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Make learning fundamental to team growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The team that learns together<\/a>, stays together. In a 2017 national survey<\/a> of over 400 employees, 70% of respondents said job-related training and development opportunities influenced their decision to stay at their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An employee reading group doesn\u2019t have to focus on professional development alone. Fiction can provide invaluable insights into both society and<\/em> your colleagues\u2019 mindsets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, an employee book club is a great way to allow your team to develop their skills outside of a professional setting; be it analysis, negotiation or writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Group<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Increase awareness around key issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reading isn\u2019t just a fun learning activity, it can also offer a window into significant social issues. Basing your book selections on important cultural events can help raise awareness and expand your teams\u2019 understanding of important issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books are a great gateway to subjects about which some colleagues might know very little. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, you could choose books from LGBTQI+ authors for Pride month, or study the works of Maya Angelou or James Baldwin for black history month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you choose, be mindful of the impact it could have on others. That doesn\u2019t mean simply warning everyone in the group they’re about to discuss difficult subject matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Business Office Connection Contemporary Working Concept<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It also means recognising that some people may have personally experienced these issues. They may or may not be willing to discuss those experiences with the rest of your team and you shouldn\u2019t prompt them to without prior consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to create an employee reading club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before launching your book club, it\u2019s important to consider some key questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n