Purpose Is a Protective Factor for Mental Health and Well-Being at Work

Purpose Is a Protective Factor for Mental Health and Well-Being at Work

People who know and connect with their purpose within an organization are 3 times more likely to feel fulfilled. Against this backdrop, at the HR Network’s Well-Being Congress, Almabrands presented its RIC model, which encompasses three key dimensions to foster people’s fulfillment, empowerment and well-being in the workplace.

 

At the HR Network’s Well-Being Congress, the consultancy Almabrands highlighted the importance of personal purpose as a key tool for tackling the mental health crisis in the workplace.

 

Before hundreds of attendees, Cristina Villavicencio, partner at Almabrands, and Cristián Irarrázaval, Head of Training and Cultural Transformation, noted that people who know and connect with their purpose within an organization are 3 times more likely to feel fulfilled.

 

This comes amid a complex mental health crisis: according to the WHO, 15% of the workforce shows symptoms of stress, and nearly half of younger generations have experienced burnout at work.

 

Cristina Villavicencio also added that the idea that work and personal life can be kept separate is a myth, and that, according to research by Aaron Hurst, Almabrands’ Purpose Economist, only 1% of people who say they are fulfilled in their personal lives are not fulfilled at work. “This confirms that personal and professional satisfaction are intertwined, and that feeling fulfilled at work is essential to achieving holistic well-being,” she explains.

 

To drive change, the key is to work with awareness of one’s personal purpose, they said. It requires a purpose mindset—that is, approaching work from a perspective in which employees come to find meaning and take ownership of their work, as opposed to simply working for a paycheck or sticking to their job description. This leads to better results, more engaged teams, a more resilient culture and higher retention rates.

 

The RIC Model: Relationships, Impact and Growth

 

To help people connect with purpose within organizations, Cristián Irarrázaval presented Almabrands’ RIC model, which focuses on three key dimensions:

 

1. Meaningful relationships: The ability to build close, honest connections is essential to fostering a healthy work environment. “If we don’t have trusting relationships in our workplace, it’s hard for people to feel fulfilled and engaged,” he says.

 

2. Impact: Feeling that your work has a positive impact on others and that your role within the organization matters is crucial for motivation. Employees need to know that their work has a broader reach and that what they do has value beyond themselves.

 

3. Growth and development: This is about feeling that I am in a place and a space where I can grow as a person and as a professional. Growth opportunities aren’t limited to moving up the organizational ladder; they often come through new responsibilities or the chance to acquire new knowledge.

 

As a leading organizational transformation consultancy in Latin America, Almabrands emphasizes that well-being at work not only improves employees’ quality of life but also directly impacts companies’ productivity and sustainability.

 

With this model, Almabrands wants organizations to see purpose not as a trend, but as a standard that enables them to develop people, teams and leaders through a more human approach aligned with their values.

 

“Focusing on relationships, impact and growth is essential for people to feel fulfilled and part of something bigger than themselves. This is the true path to well-being and mental health in the workplace,” Irarrázaval concludes.