Knowledge and Human Development Authority: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:13, 3 November 2019

Revision as of 15:02, 21 January 2020

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==5 Ways of Wellbeing==

In 2014, KHDA implemented the evidence-based '5 Ways to Wellbeing'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nefconsulting.com/our-services/strategy-culture-change/five-ways-to-wellbeing/|title=Five Ways to Wellbeing}}</ref> - developed by [[Nic Marks]] at the [[New Economics Foundation]] - into its processes and physical environment. These '5 Ways' - Keep Learning, Give, Take Notice, Connect, and Be Active positive changes at the workplace. To motivate the employees to '''"Keep Learning"''', KHDA has opened up a library to promote reading. It has also hosted talks from national and international speakers, and funded training programs for employees to attend of their choice.

KHDA's encouragement to '''"Give"''' by participating in charitable activities throughout the community – at hospitals, at special needs centres, at mosques and at animal rescue centres - and by making more time to help each other during the working day. KHDA established a programme with an orphanage in Banda Aceh, Indonesia which enabled teams to travel and spend a week working with the children and their carers. These trips were funded partly by KHDA, and partly by fundraising activities we held throughout the year. KHDA implemented '''‘Take Notice’''' by beginning the meetings with mindfulness exercises and by practicing an ‘attitude of gratitude’.

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KHDA's office environment, meanwhile, made it easier to '''‘Connect’''', by replacing standard-issue carpets and cubicles with sofas, mobile desks, bean bags and green spaces. KHDA established a ‘no-door’ policy instead of an 'open door' policy, with communal areas taking the place of private offices. In the KHDA lobby, people mingle freely and have conversations over coffee, often entertained by someone playing on the baby grand piano, or by lovebirds tweeting as customers arrive. At KHDA, [[Dr. Abdulla Al Karam]] believes that guests should be indistinguishable from employees; board members are no different from new joiners.