Forbes feature: How Groov is tackling wellbeing in workplaces and in rugby
Highlights from Groov’s profile in Forbes following its announcement as the official wellbeing partner of New Zealand Rugby.
Hot on the heels of Groov’s announcement as the official wellbeing partner of New Zealand Rugby, sports journalist Vitas Carosella interviewed Groov CEO Matt Krogstad for Forbes. Below are some of the highlights.
Groov and New Zealand Rugby
High performing organisations understand every workplace needs a considered wellbeing strategy, whether employees spend most of their time in an office – or on a rugby field.
Groov is leading the way when it comes to integrating wellbeing into the natural flow of work, going far beyond ‘yoga and fruit bowl’ stereotypes to cement wellbeing as a core pillar of performance. That’s one of the many reasons why Groov is now the official wellbeing partner of New Zealand Rugby, home to some of the world’s most high-performing teams.
The Groov software platform delivers preventative, evidence-based mental health tools and resources to employees at the right time and in the right way. Groov supports New Zealand Rugby’s grassroots and community teams, right through to high-performance teams including the All Blacks and the Black Ferns, along with the 170+ New Zealand Rugby employees.
“With Groov’s platform, rugby unions in New Zealand and offices around the world are being given the tools to help their workers feel good, function better and maintain happy and healthy lifestyles,” writes Carosella in Forbes.
Read more: New Zealand Rugby announce multi-year partnership with Groov
The partnership is a significant milestone for Groov co-founder Sir John Kirwan, the legendary former All Blacks winger and long-standing mental health advocate. Kirwan was one of the first major athletes to speak out about mental health, and in 2012 he was knighted for his rugby achievements and mental health advocacy.
Although Kirwan loved his time on the rugby field, it was also a time where he felt he needed to hide his experiences with mental health. Partnering with New Zealand Rugby shows how far the conversation has come over the past few decades.
“Together with New Zealand Rugby, Groov is showing that people and athletes can overcome adversity and thrive if mental health and wellbeing are given the attention they deserve. This means being open and honest about when a break is needed, discussing issues such as anxiety and depression and seeking help before things get worse,” writes Carosella.
Helping people lead happier, healthier lives
Groov takes a proactive, preventative, approach to mental wellbeing. The platform uses clinically-backed, evidence-based data to serve up the right experiences, to the right employees, at the right time.
“The approach is focused on small, sustainable actions that individuals can use to function and perform better over time. Groov is not a crisis service, it aims to make sure as few people as possible find themselves in need of crisis services,” Carosella explains.
The Groov platform offers tools and resources for every employee, including those at executive level, who CEO Matt Krogstad says are at highest risk of burnout. Its flagship product, Groov Anywhere, integrates directly into other workplace tools including Google, MS Teams, and Slack, meeting people where they are in their natural flow of work.
“Krogstad notes that mental health issues are pervasive throughout society and will require a variety of solutions. He believes working directly with employers is a great way to tackle mental health, insisting that the platform can help managers understand if their employees are feeling down and who is feeling burnt out.”
Science-backed solutions for every employee
In addition to Groov Anywhere, the platform also has a host of other solutions and experiences, including live events, e-learning modules, and a companion app. The app in particular has been a hit with employees’ families, especially the Breathing Tool which is popular among kids.
Carosella writes: “The seamless integration into the workplace and home allows a proactive approach to wellbeing to become almost second nature, with the idea being that people will naturally feel and function better by taking small daily steps.”
The partnership with New Zealand Rugby represents a unique and exciting opportunity for Groov to make a difference in the lives of more people around the world, on and off the field.
Stress, anxiety, and other wellbeing challenges are rife throughout workplaces, and Groov is using science, data, and technology to help support every worker, from employees through to C-Suite executives.
“Their everyday wellbeing model is about more than just helping people manage stress and pressure, it is about protecting from future mental risk and improving people’s daily life experience.”
You can read the full article on Forbes. To find out more about the Groov platform, including the partnership with New Zealand Rugby, request a demo.