The Path to Well-Being at Work with Teresa Clark
Picture our ancestors, hunters and gatherers roaming the savannah.
Various anthropological studies indicate that the early homo sapiens experienced working together towards a common goal (survival of the species) as a source of fun, meaning, and belonging.
However, the modern concept of work seems to have strayed from this original purpose.
Closing the gap between our ancestors’ experience and today’s work culture is the central focus of our conversation with Teresa Clark.
Teresa, the founder of The Wellness Revolution, is a highly influential mental health expert recognized for breaking down stigmas across various sectors.
With a powerful personal journey of grief, loss, and incarceration, Teresa has dedicated the last 12 years to transforming workplace cultures, enhancing employee experiences, and prioritizing well-being.
In this episode, Teresa shares her story and provides valuable insights on cultivating a culture where individuals can thrive. Join us as we explore the path to creating work environments that prioritize employee well-being, foster a sense of purpose, and bring back the joy and fulfillment that work once held for our species.
Episode highlights
- Defining well-being at work.
- Work as a source of purpose and meaning.
- The future of work for humans after AI takes over the jobs we didn’t enjoy doing in the first place.
- Eudaimonia and psychological safety as key factors in creating a culture of well-being at work.
- The power of old habits and how they get in the way of creating a work environment where people can thrive.
- Using data and design thinking to improve employees’ experience.
- The importance of flow states at work.
Listen to the interview in the player below or on iTunes. If you like what you hear, please leave a review, and it may be featured on a future episode.
More about Teresa Clark
Teresa Clark, founder of The Wellness Revolution, has been recognised as one of the UK’s most influential mental health experts by the InsideOut LeaderBoard 2021 alongside Dame Kelly Holmes, former Premier League Footballer, Clarke Carlisle, and senior leaders from Deloitte, PWC, NatWest, JP Morgan and Sanofi.
Since 2019, the InsideOut LeaderBoard has been smashing the stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing in the workplace by celebrating leading executives like Teresa who are willing to speak openly about their mental health challenges and experiences.
In 2007, Teresa received a four-year prison sentence for the tragic deaths of three of her friends in a car accident, where she fell asleep at the wheel after a festival. She nearly lost both of her legs and was diagnosed with severe PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
The years that followed have led Teresa on a turbulent journey of personal recovery from extreme physical injury, psychological and emotional trauma. But she knew she could never give up, and prison became a critical turning point: Her deep remorse and transformative journey birthed a life trajectory centred around a deep passion and purpose to help others.
Over the last 12 years, Teresa has worked tirelessly to break down the stigma around mental health across the criminal justice system, the NHS and both the private and charity sectors. She’s worked with everyone from ex-offenders to the most disadvantaged and severely mentally ill members of society, championing the power of positive thinking, to help people to grow beyond their traumatic experiences, showing how even in our darkest moments there is always reason for hope.
Teresa has also been a leading expert driving awareness of mental health issues locally and nationally. Mental health and wellbeing continue to be one of the biggest problems in the UK, with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health problem of some kind each year in England alone. Yet every day, many people are still uncomfortable discussing their mental health issues, particularly at work.
Founded in 2019 The Wellness Revolution, is an organisation that helps businesses to transform culture, enhance employee experience and prioritise employee wellbeing. By supporting people to live happier and healthier lives they inspire organisations to expand their horizons beyond profit, to their impact in the world.
Booked mentioned in this episode
Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey
Search Inside Yourself by Chad Meng Tan
Exceptional by Daniel Cables
Additional resources
CultureBrained® Community – a one-of-a-kind virtual community for Heads of Culture, founders, and leaders who want to up their culture game.
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