Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 million vehicles per year. The South Australian management team, including regional centre dealerships, decided to invest in the wellbeing of their teams.
Toyota has been embedding the 12-week Thrive@Work program into a targeted group of staff since 2022 and recently graduated another successful cohort. We continue to witness their staff, embracing new concepts and tools to improve their overall wellbeing at work and personally.
TOYOTA INVESTED IN THE THRIVE@WORK PROGRAM AND IT PAID OFF
“We were recommended the program and when we presented it to our dealer network, they jumped at the chance to put their emerging and potential female leaders through the course to provide them with the skills to grow both personally and professionally.”
Andrea Buller, Senior Sponsorships, Events, and Guest Experience Manager from Toyota shared why they first got involved with Generation Thrive.
In 2022 100% of participants reported increasing their confidence, accountability, and understanding of how to use their strengths and replace unhelpful habits. These measurable outcomes are amazing; however, we find the personal stories their staff so openly shared at the graduation of their program particularly moving.
One employee was promoted into a new management role and found the Thrive@Work tools supported her growth and transition into this role, while another mentioned she had reduced stress in her life because of learning and applying new time management tools.
One program participant reflected,
“I am proud of the achievements of goal setting and being able to work on myself to improve my professionalism within the workplace and improve my overall sense of worth and confidence outside of work.”
In 2023 100% of participants once again reported increasing their accountability and having a better understanding of how to use their personal strengths, along with an improved self-image. All participants in this group are now flourishing.
A recent program graduate reported she has learnt the art of delegation, teaching others to master skills and setting them up for success, whilst becoming more accountable and responsible for her success and path forward within Toyota.
The remarkable improvements are not only inspiring, but they are also eye-opening - reflecting the need for targeted personal and professional training opportunities in workplaces.
Taking care of your staff will take care of your business
Investing in the wellbeing of staff will benefit both your employees and your business. Richard Branson once said:
“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”
Toyota has discovered this first-hand and is convinced that their staff are now in a position where they can better look after their customers.
“It is so exciting that we can provide courses like this to members of our dealer network and assist in their growth and development. At the end of the 12 weeks, it is clear these leaders have grasped this opportunity and have created new habits and skills that lead them to success.”
Why employee mental health matters
“Companies and their leaders are struggling to balance competing priorities under the weight of continued uncertainty and disruption. The economic outlook for 2023 remains mixed, with the possibility of a slowdown. Meanwhile, the competition for talent is fierce.”
Quite simply, companies need to take care of staff wellbeing not only to promote a healthy work environment but also to retain their talent as it costs more to replace them than to retain them.
Claire Harrison, Founder of Harrisons, states:
“Employee turnover costs can have a significant impact on your bottom line. Depending on the size of your business, the total cost of replacing an employee varies from 30-150% of their salary. This amount represents a substantial expense for any size business.”
Workplace wellbeing is about creating a work environment where employees feel supported, valued, and able to thrive. When employees are well, they are more productive, more engaged, and more likely to stay with the company. Positive work environments benefit from:
Less employee absences and turnover
Improved decision-making
Increased creativity and innovation
Enhanced customer service
Why Generation Thrive?
Generation Thrive consistently improves staff wellbeing. An evaluation of the 2022 & 2023 outcomes for the 12-week Thrive@Work program found:
35.4%
increase in psychological wellbeing. (2022)
27%
increase in psychological wellbeing. (2023)
“Over the past 12 weeks, I have acquired many tools to assist me in reaching my short and long-term goals in both my personal and professional life. I learnt how to increase my self-confidence, use assertive communication, create healthy boundaries, and have good time management and self-care strategies which enabled me to thrive in my new role as a sales manager. Being able to lead myself as a leader, enhanced my ability to lead others and stay motivated, even during difficult times. This has been a fantastic program that I hope helps more people like me to unlock their full potential and create habits that help them to be the best version of themselves.”
— Kristy, Sales Manager
“The Thrive@Work workshops are extremely helpful as they go into depth encouraging you to engage and put in place the various elements of the online program. The workshop facilitator always has an enthusiastic and positive energy that keeps you interested. The workshops are a powerful tool that I would recommend to most people who want to or need to better their self-image and general wellbeing.”