If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes evaluating the current landscape of wellness and wellbeing providers, you probably are aware of the following truth:
Many solutions look amazingly alike, but few solutions are created equal.
The simple and scary fact is that it is incredibly difficult to choose the right partner. And making the wrong decisions puts your reputation with your clients at risk.
But you still have to make choices. Employers are demanding these solutions and expecting you to help them. Understanding this, how do you make more informed decisions?
Below are five key questions you should ask your current and/or prospective wellness/wellbeing partners to ensure that you are bringing an effective solution to your clients that will strengthen your relationships long-term.
- How do they define success?
The right partner will offer solutions that are evidence-based and that are measured using independent, third-party validated metrics. Many wellness vendors try to measure what they do well, or what they want you to think is important. Make sure your partner is measuring what actually matters instead. - How do they engage?
Engagement is a full-time job. Only solutions that are engagement-focused and capable of consistently reaching populations all year long will pass the ultimate test of generating results. Don’t settle for a screening-only engagement model or a “build it and they will come” mentality. Dig deep to understand how they will sustain interest and action throughout the year. - How do they serve?
Achieving results is hard work. Is your partner prepared to take that off you and your clients’ plates? You need more than a self-serve solution. Make sure your partner is dedicating resources to your accounts and is planning to take the bulk of the admin burden in the process. Accessibility and availability are big. So is your partner’s ability to be a strategic coach through the process. - How flexible are they?
Each one of your clients is unique. They have their own mix of existing programs, budget restrictions, cultural impediments and level of leadership buy in. Cookie cutter approaches and one-size-fits-all solutions aren’t practical for your business. Not all partners are able to flex like you need them to because they haven’t built nimble solutions that can be dynamically implemented on a client by client basis. - Are they transparent and accountable?
Do they make it easy for you to determine whether their programs are working? Do they offer robust reporting that connects the dots? Do they hold themselves accountable to the highest standards and stand behind their results? Does their track record suggest they can consistently and predictably deliver?
Selecting a wellness/wellbeing partner is a strategic move on your part. Let these five questions narrow the field so that you are left with an organization who can meet the needs of your client and add value to your bottom line in the process.
