Wellness

Mention the term corporate culture, and big cerebral concepts such as shared mission will come to mind. True, cognitive culture sets the tone for the team to thrive.

Imagine you're a manager who seeks to construct the best workplace, and your organization charter is awash in ideas for bringing in purpose and values. But I argued otherwise during our corporate's annual forum today.

So far we have advocated too much on those big things - mission, vision, blah, blah, blah -  but we somehow forget the most basic human needs. Think about the hierarchy of needs model published by the psychologist Abraham Maslow. At its most bottom of the pyramid, there are physiological needs such as sleeping and eating, and security. They're far more important than the top aspiration like self-actualization. Anyone noble desires for transcendence, you might think. Think again.

In the real world, it's next to impossible to mingle our aspirations with our needs. The things we desire the most are the things we need the least.

What my hardworking doctor colleagues need the most, as a matter of fact, is time for bathroom visit, a break for lunch, or a cup of coffee.

Who won't?