| I recently wrote an article called "Deciding your | | | | Your strategy is based on goals and your |
| own future". I wrote it with individuals in mind. It is | | | | company takes action toward those goals. By |
| about choosing to be in control of your routine | | | | doing this with your healthcare strategy, you are |
| and accepting responsibility for your outcomes. In | | | | deciding your company's future. By not doing |
| other words, whether you are succeeding or not, | | | | anything, you are also deciding your company's |
| if you don't take action, you are deciding the | | | | future. |
| outcome. | | | | The article I wrote on the individual level is the |
| When it comes to employee health, there are | | | | same principle. Not only does it ring true, but it |
| many options that allow your company to save | | | | also comes together when those individuals are |
| money and improve how your insurance plan | | | | your employees. They have goals. Some of their |
| works for you. The most important option is the | | | | goals are centered in their roles on your team, |
| first choice. The first choice has to be to take | | | | while others are centered in their personal lives. |
| action. | | | | The fact remains, that all of the goals, no matter |
| By acting and putting a plan in place, you are | | | | where they are centered always affect all areas |
| deciding your company's future. By not acting, | | | | of the person's life. As your employees set goals, |
| you too are deciding your company's future. | | | | they run into challenges. These challenges are a |
| It is that simple. What is your vision? What do | | | | wide variety of things that make it more difficult |
| you want your company to look like in the | | | | to keep going. |
| future? All you need to do is set goals and take | | | | This brings us back to our original principle. If a |
| steps that are in line with those goals. There are | | | | person wants to be successful, they have to set |
| many aspects to the employee health and | | | | goals and do things that are in line with those |
| wellness plans once you get things moving, but | | | | goals. Just like a company, if they do things that |
| the simplest choice of all has to take place first. | | | | are not going to help those goals become reality, |
| That choice is to take action. If you don't take | | | | they are not going to succeed. Both companies |
| action, what happens? | | | | and individuals can choose how successful they |
| Think about it in terms of revenue or market | | | | want to be. They can blame failures on outside |
| share. If your company has a goal to increase this | | | | factors and continue to struggle with them or |
| year's revenue and market share over last years- | | | | they can take ownership and do what it takes to |
| and why wouldn't you?-you have to take steps | | | | reach goals. Either way, your employees are |
| that support these goals. If you do not take | | | | deciding their own future. |
| steps that are in line you will not succeed. You | | | | One of the best results that comes out of a |
| wouldn't quit half-way through the year and say | | | | wellness program is the support of goals. When |
| "Well, I guess we just can't generate any more | | | | goals are supported they become much more |
| revenue". Your company wouldn't give up and say | | | | realistic. A company full of employees that is |
| "Our competitors are just too good for us to | | | | setting and reaching goals is a successful |
| increase market share". If you did this you would | | | | company. This is true by definition, but it goes |
| be saying that your company is not in control of | | | | beyond the black and white. In fact, it goes back |
| your revenue or market share. If that is the | | | | to the concept of goals affecting all areas of |
| case, your company is not going to be around | | | | employees' lives. Goals, drive and success carry |
| very long. If it is, it will be very lucky. | | | | over. If there is success in one area, there will be |
| Luck is actually a word I have head companies | | | | success in another. Companies that take action to |
| use when talking about healthcare costs. "We got | | | | support employees and their goals are successful |
| lucky this year and had a smaller increase", or | | | | companies. In other words, they are deciding their |
| "We had some bad luck this year" are just a few | | | | own future. |
| of the responses I've heard to healthcare failures. | | | | From business goals, systems within the business |
| When I say healthcare failure, I am referring to | | | | and all the way down to each employee's |
| the failure of a company to take action. Or as | | | | personal goals, the process remains the same. |
| we've discussed to this point, deciding their | | | | Setting goals, taking action toward those goals |
| company's future. In these cases, their future is | | | | and maintaining the ownership of the outcomes is |
| ever-rising healthcare costs. | | | | the process on all levels. When your company |
| I highly doubt that a successful company would | | | | does this in all areas you will be successful. |
| use the word luck to describe their success. On | | | | Healthcare is no different. When your company |
| the other side of success is failure and I don't | | | | sets goals, takes action that is in line with those |
| think they would blame poor sales. They may | | | | goals, you are deciding the future. It's that simple. |
| blame it on a bad economy or other external | | | | If you want to save money on healthcare, you |
| factors, but that's another issue altogether. | | | | need to set goals as a company to improve |
| The point is, healthcare costs are controllable. | | | | employee health. As you continue to reach these |
| We've talked about it many times and will | | | | goals, you will see success in savings. More |
| continue to do so as long as it remains true. | | | | importantly you will be deciding your company's |
| Healthcare, just like other systems in your | | | | future. If you do nothing you are also deciding |
| business can be managed with proactive strategy. | | | | your company's future. |