Resources

E-BOOKS

Purpose

Purpose matters. So does meaning. Which is why bringing purpose and meaning to work have been 'hot topics' in organisations over
the past few years.

Our inspirational e-book brings together a powerful collection of insights and inspiring quotes on both.

Download

Women Sharing

19 inspiring women sharing personal life lessons for Women’s Month 2024

As part of the 2024 Women’s Day campaign, Alinda Nortje, our Founder and CEO, approached women who inspire her through the way that, each in her own way, break barriers to make the world a better place.

She invited them to reflect on how they view the topic of ‘Step out 2 Step up’ and craft a message to reflect this, adding a single quote that is either meaningful for them or that they would like to spread as a message that will inspire others.

Alinda then shared these messages on LinkedIn, honouring these women for who they are and how they each positively impact their corner of the world, and added a personal introduction to each message.

The overwhelmingly positive response to these messages prompted us to compile the wisdom of these women in an e-book to make them last.

Download

Appreciation Cards

APPRECIATION CARDS

Appreciation cards for appreciation month (March) and every month

A selection of inspiring Appreciation Cards to share. Download and share with deserving colleagues to show your appreciation for their hard work and outstanding qualities. Click on the image to enlarge and then select the download arrow (top left) to download it.

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I value your drive to always give your best

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I value your willingness to go the extra mile

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A special set for Women's Month

Are there women in your work environment that you value or hold in high esteem? Then use these cards to encourage them to keep shining. Click on the image to enlarge and then select the download arrow (top left) to download it.

Showing love on Valentine’s day

Share these special messages with your team to put a spotlight on the attitudes and behaviours that you would like to see more of. Click on the image to enlarge and then select the download arrow (top left) to download it.

I love your willingness to go the extra mile

I love your active participation in team meetings

I love your contribution to keeping the team spirit high

RESOURCES

Connecting Times

Meet Mosaic: innovative short, growth sessions for you to curate your own beautiful design

Meet Mosaic: Mix & Match your unique pattern of short growth sessions

Are you looking for a flexible, impactful learning solution that's tailored to fit your specific needs - whether for a special event, such as wellbeing month, targeted groups, or a strategic focus like inclusion and belonging or developing your leaders?

Free To Grow's innovative Mosaic short sessions allow you to 'mix & match' from our curated packages OR create your own beautiful 'pattern' that aligns with your organisation's needs - all while enjoying our signature, engaging methodology.

With this flexible, powerful format, you can address the evolving needs of key target groups, empowering them with learning experiences that are as unique as they are impactful.

What picture are your employees seeing?

If first-line leaders are the window through which employees view the organisation - what picture are your employees seeing?

First-line leaders play a significant role in the success and effectiveness of their teams. They shape the experiences, beliefs and behaviours of the people they lead - and directly determine their engagement levels.

WorkQ - providing 4C's to Engage Employees

4 C's for Engaging Employees

Imagine if a highly engaged workforce was your competitive edge? If all your employees were 'on board' and padding with all their energy towards a common destination?

Our September edition of Connecting Times shares the current reality, how you can shift this and an invitation to learn how Tiger Brands are doing this.

EmpowHER - equipping women to step OUT and step UP

4 Inspiring stories of Women Breaking Barriers

Women today are more ambitious than ever, with their representation in the C-Suite at an all-time high. However, the most significant hurdle women face is not the glass ceiling but the 'broken rung' at the first critical step up to manager.

This month's Connecting Times shares an invitation to a Webinar in which 4 inspiring women will be sharing insights into how they have Stepped Out to Step Up in their leadership journeys.

Woolworths' remarkable leader-lead approach to Staying Strong

Woolworths SA has a remarkable story. Their core values are deeply rooted in quality and caring for others.

Recognising the need to support their employees to ensure that they felt valued and cared for, they selected Staying Strong, Free To Grow's wellbeing programme, to empower their people. The programme recognises that in a world where we are all being called upon to support and show empathy for each other, it is equally important that we prioritise self-care and invest in developing personal resilience.

By prioritising their people's health and wellbeing, with a continued focus on leadership, they continue to attract, inspire, retain, develop, reward, and engage their people appropriately. They have also achieved remarkable results.

Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by a lack of meaning and purpose - Viktor Frankl

The impact of living your Purpose

Purpose matters. It is not a nice to have. It is at the core of everything we do. Meaning, however, is different - its what we need to feel fulfilled.

Purpose and meaning are big topics. This month's Connecting Times is filled with insights, a beautiful e-book to download and a special invitation.

Employees are increasingly unwilling to endure roles that cause unhappiness, stress and exhaustion and are questioning their futures in their roles.

Connecting Times April 2024

Many managers are caught between blame and burnout. They play a pivotal role in employee wellbeing, but are struggling to provide the support their teams need. As the crucial link to employee engagement and wellbeing, they are often not given the tools, support and empowerment they need to take accountability for the wellbeing of their people.

Gen Z are bringing unique perspectives that are reshaping traditional approaches to employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity.

Connecting Times March 2024

While generational jokes abound, there are some interesting facts worth noting as they have a significant impact on talent acquisition, engagement and retention.

As Gen Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, step into the workforce they are bringing unique perspectives that are reshaping traditional approaches to employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity.

Top Wellbeing Priorities:
Wellbeing is a top priority for this generation who take a more holistic view encompassing physical, emotional and mental health. According to McKinsey, 76% of Gen Zs place significant emphasis on mental health support in the workplace.
Unlike their predecessors, they prioritise work-life balance from the onset of their careers.
Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options and flexible hours, are highly valued by this generation, allowing them to integrate personal passions and responsibilities into their professional lives.

Free To Grow recently celebrated 30 years of shifting behaviour through learning experiences that touch hearts and open minds.

Connecting Times Feb 2024

"The wealthiest place in the world is not the diamond mines of South Africa or the banks of the world. It is the cemetery.
In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential."

This quote by Myles Munroe set the scene for Ruby Motleheloa's (Heineken Beverages, moving opening address at the Free To Grow Pearl Anniversary Conference.

Equipping leaders to nurture the wellbeing of their teams.

Connecting Times - December 2023

The end of the year is upon us. For some, it's the most wonderful time of the year. For others, it's exceptionally challenging with increased levels of stress and anxiety, deadlines and feeling overwhelmed. As it is, work-related stress and burnout continue to grow and too many employees who need care and support are going without it.

Despite their best intentions, many leaders feel ill equipped to support and enhance the wellbeing of their teams.

Read on for more on our contribution and an achievement we are extremely proud of.

Moses Lubisi, Group Head Supply Chain Excellence, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa

Connecting Times - November 2023

Many organisations and leaders believe that driving engagement creates a thriving culture. This is indeed so. Yet, attempting to achieve high levels of Employee Engagement while Employee Wellbeing is crumbling, is not possible.

Free To Grow has an innovative approach to helping organisations enhance wellbeing, engagement and their culture.

Connecting Times - October 2023

October is World Mental Health Awareness month and an ideal time to turn up the spotlight on mental health and wellbeing. Since 2019, employers have increasingly experienced the extent of wellbeing challenges at work.

Fast forward to 2023, and the stats from Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplace Report uncovers some startling facts about how employees are faring at work and in their personal lives.

Connecting Times - September 2023

If frontline leaders are the window through which employees view the organisation - what are your employees seeing?

Gallup's most profound finding -- ever -- is probably this: 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the manager. Frontline managers, in particular, are the most crucial lever when it comes to engaging employees. When managers are burned out and disengaged, companywide performance suffers. But when manager engagement is high, business success soars.
It's been estimated that frontline leaders typically make up 50-60% of an organisation's management and directly supervise up to 80% of the workforce. They have a profound impact on engagement as they shape the experiences, beliefs and behaviours of the people they lead. Sadly, the realities and skillsets of many frontline leaders are far from ideal.

Connecting Times - August 2023

In the ongoing battle for talent, achieving gender equality has become an increasingly critical goal for companies. The demand for better work experiences and opportunities from women is unprecedented, leading to a surge in women leaders seeking new career opportunities. This exodus of women leaders could have severe implications for businesses already grappling with a gender gap in leadership, especially at the initial rungs.

The 'broken rung'

"Long before bumping into any glass ceiling, many women run into obstacles trying to grasp the very first rung of the management ladder - and not because they are pausing their careers to raise children. As a result, it's early in many women's careers, not later, when they fall dramatically behind men in promotions, blowing open a gender gap that widens every step up the ladder," shares an article in the Wall Street Journal.

Connecting Times – July 2023

The World Economic Forum's latest 'Future of Jobs' report reveals the top 10 most in-demand job skills. Based on a survey of 803 companies in 27 industry clusters in 45 different economies - executives predict that 44% of employees' skill sets may require updating by 2027.

As expected, tech literacy ranks among the top ten in-demand skills. Most interestingly, 5 out of the 10 are self-efficacy or 'soft skills'; and Leadership comes in at number 9.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Connecting Times – April 2023

Employee Wellbeing is one of the top business priorities in 2023 shares Business Day Live. Forbes also paces concerns about human health first in their analysis of the 2023 workplace and speaks to the growing challenge of Leadership and HR burnout.

Connecting Times – March 2023

“The hypothalamus, the area of our brain that controls basic bodily functions such as eating and sleeping, and dopamine, the 'reward neurotransmitter' are heavily affected by feelings of gratitude," says a Psychology Today article. This means that showing gratitude can improve wellness, sleep habits, metabolism and stress levels. Ultimately, this can lead to a better work/life balance and improved performance in the workplace.

Connecting Times – January 2023

Starting one's first job after years of studying is an exciting milestone. It is often, however, a disappointing experience. According to the Havard Business Review, many graduates commonly struggle with three challenges when starting their careers: unrealistic expectations, learning to navigate the workplace and dealing with the absence of feedback.

Connecting Times – December 2022

The 2022 Momentum Unisa Household Financial Wellness Index has just been released. The report reveals that South Africans are making progress in recovering from 2020, our annulus horribilis, but need a helping hand.

"South Africa is facing a cost-of-living crisis, people are struggling to keep their heads above water," says Bertie Nel, Head of financial planning and advice, at Momentum.

Connecting Times – November 2022

Placing employee wellbeing high on your strategic agenda is commendable. Developing and implementing a strategy to equip your leaders to touch 20 000 people, countrywide in a deep and meaningful manner in a few months, is another. This is what leading retailer, Woolworths has achieved.

Connecting Times – October 2022

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. It's an ideal time to turn up the spotlight on mental health and wellbeing. In 2019, employers started to grasp the extent of mental health challenges at work. Fast forward to 2022, and burnout and mental health challenges "are now the norm among employees across all organisational levels" according to the Harvard Business Review article "It's a new Era for Metal Health at Work".

Connecting Times – August 2022

McKinsey's Women in the Workplace 2021 Report reveals women's representation has improved across all levels of the corporate pipeline in 2020. In addition to the challenges and complexities wreaked by the pandemic, there is still a 'broken rung' at the first step up to manager. Women are still promoted to manager at far lower rates than men, and this makes it nearly impossible for companies to lay a foundation for sustained progress at more senior levels.

Connecting Times – July 2022

First-line leaders have a key role to play in employee engagement. They shape the experiences, beliefs and behaviours of the people they lead. Sadly, the realities of many first-line leaders are far from ideal.

Connecting Times – June 2022

Adapting to changing employee priorities while balancing business outcomes in an unpredictable economy is one of the key challenges facing organisations.

While most knowledge workers in South Africa favour the idea of a hybrid working model, data recently revealed by Microsoft shows that people are generally unsure of when to come into the office and why. Many employees feel the commute is unnecessary and would rather spend valuable time with family.

Connecting Times – May 2022

Burnout amongst leaders and employees is reaching unprecedented rates. The Deloitte Women At Work 2022 survey reveals that women, in particular, are facing widespread burnout. This is exacerbated by poor work/life balance and an inability to "switch off" from work. The inability to "switch off" is not always one of choice. 42% of the respondents could not switch off due to concerns that their career progression will be negatively affected if they are not constantly available.