Workplace Wellness that Works: 10 Steps to Infuse Well-Being and Vitality into Any Organization

Step 5Take a da Vinci Approach to Change(The Interdisciplinary Imperative)

Leonardo da Vinci, best known for his beautiful rendering of Mona Lisa, was the embodiment of the “Renaissance man.” As a painter, sculptor, inventor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer, he united science with art, music with engineering, cartography with architecture, and sculpture with botany. Da Vinci's prolific contributions demonstrate the power of taking an interdisciplinary approach to work and life, and his contributions to our world celebrate the power of integration to make anything better.

Workplace wellness, on the other hand, has historically been compartmentalized and disconnected from other related efforts within the organization. I believe that the field is desperately in need of a good dose of da Vinci. Just as Ronald Reagan urged, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”—we need to do the same within our organizations: We need to tear down these siloes!

If we truly want to elevate workplace wellness to the next level and do a better job of meeting common goals, we must take a more interdisciplinary approach and seek cross-functional solutions among departments. Like da Vinci, your task will be to bring together unlikely partners to create a multifaceted and coordinated team that can work with you to build the movement. ...