What is a holistic way of working?

Non-Holistic Explained:

Before understanding what holistic working means, we’ll break down the contrasting view of this!

Non-holistic (or “atomistic” if you’re being fancy!) is the opposite view of holistic and means viewing each part that makes up the whole separately; it is quite an individualistic view and doesn’t account for the whole.

In terms of working, this philosophy focuses on individual parts, and things are broken down into their smallest segments.

Some think that it can be pretty isolating in terms of work and can lead to a neglect of the well-being of a team. In addition, the focus here can be very narrow and may not consider the broader system at play. But everyone is different (which makes us all unique and amazing!), and we recognise that some people may prefer atomistic ways of working.

There can be some weaknesses of this when thinking about the well-being of the team:

• With a narrow focus, meaningful connections and relationships that are part of the whole can be overlooked.
• It may not consider the broader context in which people work and operate, which can, in turn, affect their well-being.
• Focusing on small parts of a system can make people feel isolated, leading to a lack of collaboration on projects and negatively impacting well-being.
• People may experience less support in times of need or require additional assistance in relation to their mental health etc. Again, this is due to the focus on individual components rather than the wellness of the whole.

Holistic explained:

On the other hand, a holistic approach to working takes into account the whole organisation rather than individual parts. The philosophy recognises that everything is interdependent and connected as well as knowing that one area of a system can have a ripple effect on the whole.

Some benefits of this philosophy for team well-being are:

• Team members are encouraged to see the bigger picture and understand how actions and behaviour impact others as the whole system is considered.
• Collaboration and connection are really encouraged here; this can improve social support and positively impact well-being!
• Well-being can also be improved as people can find purpose and meaning in their work by thinking about the bigger picture.
• Communication is essential and promoted, and multiple viewpoints are considered in decision-making processes. Problem-solving is also encouraged on a broader scale which can lead to greater satisfaction and accomplishment.

Holistic working at Mindera:

Company perks in relation to our Minder’s well-being:

Working at Mindera has many benefits and perks; we really believe that looking after our Minder’s holistically is the best for their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being! We promote mentorships within the team so people can turn to each other for advice, guidance, and learning, which also encourages collaboration and communication. We also have mental health sessions that global Minders can attend and a sharing group set up during Covid-19!

Each location has its own perks and benefits, but for example, in the UK, our perks are:

• Hybrid and remote working means we get the best of both worlds; we can connect and bond with the team but also manage our time how we see fit! This is great for parents and neurodivergent team members especially!
• Private healthcare - our Minders can be secure knowing they’re looked after inside and outside of work! We know this holistic approach has a knock-on effect on the team's mental and physical well-being!
• An annual team-building trip to somewhere voted on by the team - this is great for that work-life balance and unwinding!
• Up to an 8% pension contribution so our team can be protected and secure throughout their career and even after!

These are just the UK office benefits, but to see our benefits more widely, we wrote a piece on it! Check it out!

Holistic working & software development:

While no industry or company is the same, working in software development can be pretty holistic for several reasons:

• Software development can involve working in small, cross-functional teams that work together to deliver a product; this requires each team's viewpoints to be considered as well as open communication and collaboration.
• The systems involved in software development are made up of many interconnected parts, which require people to think about how their actions and work impact the whole system.
• Problem-solving is also considered holistically because it is crucial to consider the broader context and impacts of problems our teams can encounter in product development and coding.
• Testing is another thing considered in a holistic light; when working on our client’s products, it is vital to test the whole system and not just individual elements in isolation. This allows our Minders to evaluate the interactions between different product parts.

Tips for the holistic work environment:

• Encourage collaboration and open communication;
• Encourage considering the broader context and impact of actions;
• Promote a sense of purpose and meaning;
• Emphasise a healthy work-life balance for your team with flexible working arrangements;
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and development.

Quotes from Minders on Holistic working:

Kirti Lad:

“Being a coach and a leader, I understand the value of building a holistic working environment. Regardless of who we are or where we’re from, ‘purpose’ is one of the most difficult things to find. A non-holistic workplace can be toxic; it can create suffering, anxiety and depression!

Great team members and leaders that work in a holistic (all-together way) will empower their people to make a positive impact, strive to meet goals, and give a deeper sense of purpose.”

Sally Wright:

“When I'm looking at something on an individual basis, I find I can restrict the view of the bigger picture, and I can't find out the true impact of actions. Having a holistic approach to how I think and work truly affects the successful outcome of what I do here at Mindera!”

If you can feel yourself working as part of a holistic company and team, check out our vacancies!