Request a demo
BetterUp
Request a demo

Why Inner Work® is the ultimate retention strategy

September 2, 2019 - 4 min read

woman-tends-plants-in-greenhouse-inner-work-for-retention


Jump to section

Geographic impact on inner work activities

The world of work is changing at a dramatic pace for both employers and employees. To keep up, we must reimagine what the future of work looks like. But this reimagining exercise involves thinking outside the box and exploring how our experiences as human beings (and not just employees) affect our outlook, engagement in our work, and ability to innovate.

Recently, our team of researchers conducted a rigorous study, surveying a group of 3,000+ working individuals about their Inner Work® (defined as “mental acts or activities focused in your inner world to achieve a purpose or result”)  and self-care habits.

BetterUp behavioral data scientist Andrew Reece, a Harvard PhD whose expertise lies in using machine learning and statistics to gain new insights into human psychology and decision-making, poured over hundreds of pages of research in organizational and behavioral science to come up with a framework for understanding what Inner Work® is and how it manifests across the American workforce.

We presented the findings from his research survey at Shift, our conference on the topic of reimagining meaning at work.  

Our survey uncovered some fascinating insights, both from an individual and organizational perspective.

subscribe-cta

Geographic impact on Inner Work® activities

At a high level, we discovered that Inner Work® is dictated not only by who we are, but where we live. For example, we found out that:

  • The #1 Inner Work® activity in Alabama was prayer (3.06 prayer breaks per week)
  • The #1 Inner Work® activity in Hawaii was meditation (1.44 meditation breaks per week).  
  • Idaho is #1 for walking (4.18 walking breaks per week).
  • Reading ranked #1 in Mississippi (3.13 reading breaks per week).  
  • Journaling, is #1 in New Mexico (1.13 journaling breaks per week)

These findings were interesting, for sure, and had our team comparing notes on how we practice Inner Work®. But as it turned out, there were even more mind-blowing correlations between Inner Work® and both organizational and personal outcomes, including:

  • Inner Work® is positively correlated with subjective levels of happiness
  • Inner Work® breaks are positively correlated with employee promotions

 

Inner Work® is the ultimate retention strategy.

Alexi Robichaux, CEO and Co-founder, BetterUp

 

Not only is Inner Work® positively correlated with individual happiness and professional growth, but our team’s research has shown that it contributes to increased engagement and retention.

What does this mean to employers? Investing in people — as human beings — isn’t just something that sounds good. It has undeniable consequences on culture and the bottom line.

Check out all of our findings from this survey.


Lead with confidence and authenticity

Develop your leadership and strategic management skills with the help of an expert Coach.

Lead with confidence and authenticity

Develop your leadership and strategic management skills with the help of an expert Coach.

Published September 2, 2019

Kasey Hickey

Kasey Hicks is a writer, content strategist, communications professional, and community builder. Above all else, she loves working with people to find the right words to tell a good story, regardless of the medium. Kasey received her B.A. in Sociology from UC San Diego.

Read Next

Employee Experience
12 min read | October 14, 2022

5 ways to foster employee loyalty (and why you should)

Loyal employees are the backbone of your company. Here are 5 ways to develop employee loyalty at work and the benefits of retaining these workers. Read More
Employee Experience
17 min read | September 6, 2022

Want to boost retention and morale? 11 employee incentives to try

What incentivizes your employees? If your first thought is just money, think again. Find out the 11 employee incentives that work. Read More
Employee Experience
5 min read | March 12, 2020

Leading From a Distance: Ideas for Supporting Your Remote Workforce in Times of Change

As we all look to navigate the current public health landscape as thoughtfully and effectively as possible, Dr. Gabriella Kellerman, BetterUp’s Chief Innovation Officer,... Read More
Employee Experience
22 min read | January 27, 2022

9 employee retention strategies that actually work

Dive into the top employee retention strategies that keep your employees engaged, supported, and happy at work. Read More
Employee Experience
10 min read | September 2, 2019

People managers: The antidote to employee burnout

As employee burnout continues to rise in the workplace, many HR leaders are asking themselves: how do we stop it? Read More
Leadership & Management
25 min read | September 20, 2021

What is Inner Work®? It’s the key to being a better leader

As the world of work changes, employers and employees are missing the value of Inner Work®. Here's what it is and why it's crucial for performance. Read More
Employee Experience
7 min read | September 2, 2019

Announcing the Employee Experience Index: Why moving beyond engagement is essential

View the exciting Employee Experience Index announcement. Is employee engagement the construct employers should use to enhance productivity and performance? Read More
Employee Experience
6 min read | September 2, 2019

BetterUp Named a 2019 “Cool Vendor” in Human Capital Management: Enhancing Employee Experience by GartnerUp Your Game: A New Model for Leadership

Being recognized by Gartner as a “Cool Vendor” means a great deal to us. We believe it validates how important the employee experience is to organizational success and that... Read More
Employee Experience
16 min read | September 2, 2019

Josh Bersin on the importance of talent management in the modern workplace

Josh Bersin, Founder and Principal of Bersin by Deloitte, recently spoke at BetterUp Shift 2018, an event which brought together the most innovative leaders and thinkers in... Read More

Similar Articles

Leadership & Management 

Looking inward can make you a better leader

Research & Insights 

Inner Work® at work: 4 companies leading the way in unlocking the potential of their employees

Employee Benefits 

What is unlimited PTO and how does it work?

Leadership & Management 

What is Inner Work®? It’s the key to being a better leader

Coaching 

A coach's perspective on Inner Work®

Well-being 

How inner child work enables healing and playful discovery

Mental Fitness 

How to do Inner Work® (even if you're way too busy)

Company Announcements 

Meditate like a pro: 3 Inner Work® lessons from Pau Gasol

Employee Experience 

10 company retreat ideas to unite and inspire your team

Stay connected with BetterUp

Get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research.