| During a recent presentation by several | | | | that actually telling it like it is. |
| independent health care brokerage consultants, | | | | Yes it is much easier to blame others for making |
| they described a plethora of ways for | | | | poor decisions relative to living a healthy life style. |
| management to decrease or reduce health care | | | | And it does take an internal commitment to |
| costs through current insurance offerings. Their | | | | upholding those decisions be they healthy or |
| presentation was concise, but truly did not focus | | | | unhealthy. |
| on the most critical factor. | | | | The problem is being willing to be uncomfortable, |
| In talking with one of the speakers after the | | | | to accept change and to live without those tasty |
| presentation concluded, she shared her frustration | | | | but weight increasing foods to working those |
| because discussing this one factor is politically | | | | 10,000 steps each day. Yes change is hard and |
| insensitive to politically incorrect. That element is | | | | not easy. However, why should businesses suffer |
| personal accountability and commitment. | | | | from poor productivity and lose profits, because |
| The majority of unhealthy behaviors are the | | | | people are expecting others to pay for the |
| direct results of a poor decision-making process. | | | | consequences of their poor decisions reflected by |
| Since human beings for the most part (99.9%) | | | | their behaviors? |
| have 100% control over their own behaviors, | | | | Human beings are no longer the gathers and |
| then health care is really far more about the | | | | farmers of years gone by where each day was |
| choices people made and their willingness to stay | | | | hard work from before sun up to after sun down. |
| committed to those choices. Executive Coaching | | | | Businesses and organizations are now based on a |
| Tip: People must change their own behaviors if | | | | knowledge economy, brain power, not brawn |
| management truly wants sustainable results. | | | | power. |
| Personal accountability is about taking 100% | | | | Employees must demonstrate more personal |
| internal responsibility for the consequences of | | | | accountability regarding their behaviors and not |
| one's decisions and one's actions. It is not about | | | | expect those who are living a more healthy |
| using the excuses such as the choices we make | | | | lifestyle to bear the financial burden from lesser |
| are limited by the choices we have. If our country | | | | salaries to higher prices for goods and services. |
| embraced this rationale, would we have the | | | | And management must foster an environment |
| technology today that we so enjoy? In all | | | | where healthy behaviors are rewarded. |
| honesty, we would still be living in caves, cooking | | | | Human resource departments and organizational |
| over open pits and wearing animal hides. | | | | management teams need to start measuring |
| Being committed to the decision is a supporting | | | | these talents and then providing the necessary |
| talent, attribute or capacity. Again, this is an | | | | tools to help their employees make better |
| internal talent that exists without any external | | | | decisions. Only then will management see a |
| influences or pressures. Individuals who continually | | | | reduction in health care and more importantly yield |
| achieve their goals or complete their tasks | | | | sustainable results including sustainable personal |
| demonstrate this attribute. However our society | | | | accountability and commitment. |
| would rather ascribe a disorder to the behavior | | | | |