Nourish Your Second Brain
A recent documentary, “Hack Your Health: The Secret of Your Gut,” illuminates the intricate relationship between our diet choices, gut health, and brain function. Our gut is known as our “second brain”. It communicates back and forth with our “big brain,” significantly affecting our mood, cognition, and overall well-being. When we nourish the microbial community in our gut with diverse, healthy foods, we feed nutrients that contribute to our holistic health.
I couldn’t help but wonder: have unhealthy organizations been disproportionately prioritizing revenue-generating functions above all else and neglecting their non-revenue-generating activities?
These seemingly "secondary" areas are the engine that moves an organization:
Employee Well-being - Professional development, coaching, wellness initiatives, and flexible work schedules all play a crucial role in cultivating employee satisfaction, engagement, and overall health. Studies have shown a strong correlation between employee well-being and productivity. Who are more creative and resourceful? Happy employees or disengaged ones?
Business Operations - IT, operations, and administrative teams may not directly close deals, but their smooth operation ensures smooth workflow and collaboration across departments. Efficiencies in these areas can reduce bottlenecks, redundancies, and waste, ultimately expanding revenue opportunities.
Organizational Culture - Today’s employees are highly mindful of alignment between a company’s culture and their values. Inspiring leaders who advance a positive and purpose-driven culture are crucial. Departments like public relations, marketing, and internal communications help clearly communicate the company’s “Why” and leadership’s vision. Such organizations attract and retain top talent, foster collaboration, and drive innovation.
Neglecting these functions has high costs:
High Turnover - Silent quitting, detrimental mistakes, and even resignations often stem from disengaged and dissatisfied employees. This results in increased recruitment and training costs, and even business disruption.
Reduced Productivity - Operational inefficiencies create roadblocks and frustrations, impacting overall business output, relationships, and collaboration between people and teams.
Negative Brand Image - With the accessibility of information, potential employees and customers can easily learn about a company’s culture. Once a negative reputation is established, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to repair the damage and reverse public perception, making it more difficult to attract talent and customers.
Feeding more than just the bare minimum to the non-revenue generating functions is an investment in the organization's future:
Improved Employee Retention - If you pay fast food chain wages (nothing wrong with fast food workers, I was one of them), you can’t expect Tesla output. Compensate your dedicated employees competitively, allocate resources for professional development, create a work environment of trust, and prioritize well-being. Higher morale, stronger commitments, and more exemplary work will result.
Enhanced Efficiency - Your “big brain” functions will be able to fully focus on revenue-generating activities instead of battling with broken systems, failing equipment, or waste due to miscommunication or poorly designed processes.
Stronger Brand and Reputation - A focus on a positive culture inspires passion and attracts top talent. When you have a trusted and loyal customer base, they become your strongest organic advocates, helping to strengthen your brand image.
Prioritizing the “big brain” alone can have detrimental long-term consequences. Just as we nourish our gut for optimal physical health, organizations must nurture the often-overlooked functions that form the foundation for a thriving ecosystem. By bringing employee well-being, operational efficiency, and a strong company culture to the front burner, organizations can unlock their true potential and achieve sustainable success.
