Running head: BUSINESS PLAN

Changing the Culture: Business Plan

Deondra Gray, Jessica Deasey, Sarina Thomas, Lisa Frias, Patrina Yazzie, Amanda Kelley
November 8, 2016
PPE 310
Arizona State University

Changing the Culture: Business Plan

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In the last decade, there has been a change in culture at the workplace as there has been a
rise in health diseases. Many of the diseases are interconnected with employees feeling stressed
at their workplace. Stress sets off an alarm in the brain, which responds by preparing the body
for defensive action. The nervous system is aroused and hormones are released to sharpen the
senses, quicken the pulse, deepen respiration, and tense the muscles (NIOSH, 1999, p.10).
Therefore, our company is striving hard in creating a healthy community through a holistic
approach to create a healthy workplace.
Socialization in many cultures can be a difficult task to complete without the proper support from
employers. At Everest Outfitters, we provide our employees the chance to build social skills by
encouraging collaboration in team building exercises with support through active training
programs. Customer service skills require friendly and understanding of company goals to
engage in conversations to recognize our employees as professionals. Employees can build
network connections to others by working together. In holistic approaches, employees are offered
the chance to 'grow' and take time away to focus on getting to know themselves and learn social
skills by meeting others. (Mildon, E., 2015)
As change agents for our company, we take responsibilities seriously and continue to work
effortlessly in the well-being of our employees. The job can be overwhelming at times and it is
important that we have a certain level of self-regulation with our emotions. In order be effective
in that aspect, I suggest support from sites that cater to developing emotional regulation.
Counselors do not necessarily need to take the role, but bonding with employees and sharing
ideas with others is promoted during social events and opportunities close by. Also, having a
space to meditate a day before or the day's events can help any emotional outbursts or
misfortunes. Mildon states that "A holistic approach to your body, mind and soul can not only

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transform your health and well-being, it can benefit your relationships, make your more patient,
understanding, loving and generally help you to become more awake as a person in your day to
day life." Taking care of the emotional state of our employees is an important aspect of healthy
promotion and the ideas suggested might not be a concern for insurance companies or company
funding because the tasks are self-completed.
Another important aspect is to integrate physical activity into the work day. People are typically
at work for a majority of the time they are awake and it is crucial for individuals to participate in
30-60 minutes of physical activity every day to maintain their health. A great way to integrate
physical activity into the day is during meetings. A few examples of this is taking a walk, a walk
is a great way to get physical activity and it is low impact enough where you can have
meaningful conversations about work (Jio, 2012). It is best to break these groups up and give
them specific agenda topics. If an employee is in a wheelchair they can still benefit because it is
a pleasant change of scenery and they are still moving their bodies and getting that activity in.
Another idea is to have a physical break during the meeting. A simple break that is good for any
ability level is stretching, it is important to have someone lead in the stretching, and as they go
they will show modified and complex moves so everyone can be safe and benefit from the
experience.
Physical activity during meetings has many benefits to the cognitive and motivational aspects of
work life. At Everest Outfitters, the activities outlined for our company will support the findings
from several studies. Research has shown that changes in physical activity have a relation to goal
setting and motivation (Dishman, R. K., Vandenberg, R. J., Motl, R. W., Wilson, M. G., & DeJoy,
D. M., 2010). Adults need for exercise keep chronic illness at bay and continue to support a
healthier environment. The intensity of exercise can cause an alarming amount of cognitive

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stress within a work scheduled, so studies found that new practices have shifted away from a
prescribed intensity to meeting a minimum recommended amount of aerobic activity that is
spread throughout the week (Kruger, 2008). In order to successfully implement these new
efforts, the change agents can conduct a mock meeting to organize the most effective transition
from physical activity to meeting.
Change agents for Everest Outfitters continue to provide holistic approaches to the workplace
with employees by challenging leaders and their employees to modify personal behaviors that
are healthy and beneficial to the company in intellectual wellness. (Schneider, J.M., Stokols, D.,
2001) An example for leaders is to make improvements by gaining perspective of their workers
daily functions by stepping into their shoes. (Goldsmith, D., Goldsmith, L., 2012) When
leaders choose to want to learn and gain more experience they are modeling a holistic example to
continue gaining knowledge of their company. One issue among employees is not receiving
opportunities to do their job better. This change can be offered in an active program rather than
with corporate health insurance rates because the approach is offered through trainings and
observations. It can be accomplished if an employee is on vacation and the manager sees and
feels firsthand what he or she faces; this allows to find mistakes or make improvements in the
workplace. The benefits for employees would decrease stress and workloads; it would also
provide leaders with better decisions for the company by looking at the bigger picture. The
behavior changing strategy would allow workers and their leaders to begin the process to become
educated about the issues and more importantly the benefits of switching roles in the workplace.
(Schneider, J.M., Stokols, D., 2001).
According to Ascension, "By fostering spirituality in the workplace, we create a model
community of mutual care and service. This benefits not just our associates, but everyone we

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serve" (2016). At Everest, it is our hope to first provide holistic health opportunities to our
employees, believing it will then overflow into our customers as well, by example. Spirituality is
a relative term, seeing that we don't all share the same faith, if any. Ascension gives us an insight
into appropriate work spirituality, though, that we think can for for everyone. Relational,
inclusive, and diverse are only three distinctive characteristics of workplace spirituality.
Although holistic and spiritual can often be misinterpreted as two in the same, they are actually
different. According to Kent Rhodes, "Indicators suggest that cultures other than that of the U.S.
may not be engaged in the same exploration of and confusion about the topic of spirituality in the
workplace" (2006). So, not everybody considers his or herself to be spiritual, but everyone can
become aware of their inner self as a whole. This type of understanding can change relationships,
health, and total wellbeing (Mildon, 2015). Interconnectedness is one word that can describe
spirituality, since it is difficult to define. At Everest Outfitters, we will not only have personal
days for nationally recognized holiday's such as Christmas and Easter, but also allow personal
days so that employees can focus on themselves entirely. We believe this is one way to allow
diversity, while also accommodating it.
Implementing change through a holistic approach will provide the following within the
company: growth, a positive environment, opportunities for employees to learn more about the
benefits of health in physical activities, opportunities of physical activities within the workplace,

and support. In summary, this will yield a positive environment in the workplace where many
employees will feel supported and motivated.

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References

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Ascension. (2016). Workplace spirituality. Retrieved from: http://ascension.org/living-themission/workplace-spirituality
Dishman, R. K., Vandenberg, R. J., Motl, R. W., Wilson, M. G., & DeJoy, D. M. (2010). Dose
relations between goal setting, theory-based correlates of goal setting and increases in
physical activity during a workplace trial. Health Education Research, 25(4), 620-631.
Retrieved from http://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?
url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/854552854?accountid=4485)
Goldsmith, D., Goldsmith, L., (2012). The Best Way to Get a New Perspective On Work. Fast
Company. Retrieved on November 3, 2016, from:
http://www.fastcompany.com/3003776/best-way-get-new-perspective-work
Kruger, J., Buchner, D. M., & Prohaska, T. R. (2009). The prescribed amount of physical activity
in randomized clinical trials in older adults. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from:
http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org. Retrieved from
http://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?
url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/61877358?accountid=4485
Mildon, E. (2015). 6 ways a holistic approach can change your life. Huffington Post. Retrieved
from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-mildon/6-ways-a-holistic-approach-canchange-your-life_b_8427336.html
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (1999). Stress... At Work.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-101/pdfs/99-101.pdf

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Rhodes, K. (2006). Six components of a model for workplace spirituality. Graziadio Business
Review. Retrieved from: https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/six-components-of-a-modelfor-workplace-spirituality/
Schneider, J.M., Stokols, D., (2001). Creating Health Promotive Environments. Promoting
Human Wellness: New Frontiers for Research, Practice, and Policy. Retrieved on,
November 3, 2016, from:
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib/reader.action?docID=10053516