How to get into a flow at work

Eisenstadt, 16th of April 2024 - According to the German Gallup Engagement Index 2022, 69% of employees have a low emotional attachment to their organisation. This indicates economic damage in a three-digit billion range. However, job dissatisfaction not only has a negative impact on the company, but also on employees and their health.

Iris Fleischmann wrote her bachelor's thesis from the Health Management and Health Promotion degree programme at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences on the importance of the experience of meaning and flow for well-being in the workplace and defined recommendations for employers.

International research on the state of flow

In her work, the student cites numerous scientific approaches to the so-called state of flow. Among others, she quotes the psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, who defined the conditions under which employees experience joy and meaningfulness in their work in his flow concept. "As a large part of life is spent at work, the professional environment can have an enormous influence on well-being and life satisfaction," the graduate points out. According to a study cited by her, employee performance increases by around 36.4 per cent when a company's management focuses on the strengths of its employees.

What employers can do

• Striking a balance between the demands of the job and the skills of employees is essential. It is important that managers adapt the challenges to the skills of the employees. In this way, continuous learning can be promoted until peak performance is achieved.
• Clear goal setting is very important for the flow experience on the job. "Goals should be set according to the SMART method. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attractive, realistic and time-bound. Only when these five criteria are met is it clear to employees what the goals are," explains Fleischmann.
• Immediate feedback from the employer is another important point to promote the flow experience.

What you can do yourself

• Regular breaks can maintain and improve concentration and performance.
• Regular exercise can also increase the likelihood of flow, which is why time out in the form of walks, for example, is recommended.
• The daily planning of task fulfilment plays an important role. For example, important and more difficult tasks should be completed in the morning.
• Employees should accept or look for tasks and activities that match their abilities in order to ensure a balance between the requirements and their abilities.
• Focus on the task at hand in order to direct full attention to the action. Avoid distractions and unimportant thoughts.

More about the degree programme

Bachelor's degree course in Health Management and Health Promotion, Business Studies with a focus on Health Promotion - 6 semesters - Organisational form: part-time (courses Monday to Wednesday) - Academic degree "Bachelor of Arts in Business, BA" - Place of study: Pinkafeld campus - Admission: Matura, university entrance qualification or vocational maturity examination, preparatory course with additional qualification examination.

Registration for remaining places is still possible.

You can find more information about the degree programmes at FH Burgenland at www.fh-burgenland.at.

Further information:
Mag^.a Christiane Staab
Marketing & Communication
Fachhochschule Burgenland GmbH
Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537
email: christiane.staab@fh-burgenland.at