It’s been an employer’s world for awhile now. Employee retention, especially of key talent, has not been a strong focus for the last two years because most employees held tight to their jobs due to economic uncertainty. However, the numbers are beginning to improve and employment experts expect that larger numbers of employees will start seeking new opportunities. Employee retention saves money and protects the morale of the entire company. What can you do to retain your key players?
Understand employee motivation. I’ve talked about it at length here and here, but know this one thing: keeping employees satisfied is not all about money and fringe benefits.
Maintain an open door policy. A significant number of employees cite their direct supervisor as the reason they are leaving their positions. Employees need to have the freedom to discuss supervisory issues without repercussions.
Be careful that you don’t inadvertently punish employees for loyalty. Pay inequity tends to punish the most senior employees because raises haven’t kept up with the external market. New hires often make more, particularly in larger companies, than their loyal, well-trained counterparts. And despite confidentiality agreements, employees DO talk. Review salaries frequently and keep your most valuable employees fairly rewarded.
Watch the micromanagement. One of the key motivators for employees is autonomy. Once well-trained, give them the leeway to perform on their own and to sometimes fail. Often more is learned from failure than training. Employee retention improves the more employees are left to manage their own performance.
Grow a solutions-oriented culture. If employees come to you with complaints about people or processes, always ask them how they would handle the situation. This does three things: it empowers the employee to take a more positive, solutions-based approach, it acknowledges the importance of the employee’s opinion AND it can give you real tools with which to work. A culture where employees are made to feel like they have a role in improving the workplace also improves employee retention.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Employee engagement wins again!
When organizational transformations succeed, managers typically pay attention to “people issues,” especially fostering collaboration among leaders and employees and building capabilities.
Over years of research and client work, we've identified a few tactics that help drive successful transformational change--any large-scale change, such as going from good to great performance, cutting costs or turning around a crisis. In a research study conducted by surveying executives from around the world, we've dug into just how companies apply some of these tactics. We found that a few approaches in each area are most tightly correlated with successful transformations of both short-term performance and long-term corporate effectiveness, or "health."
By looking at the approaches used by companies that executives describe as most successful in transforming themselves, we found evidence suggesting the importance of engaging employees collaboratively throughout the company and throughout the transformation journey. In addition, a focus on strengths and achievements, not just problems, throughout the entire transformation process is strongly tied to success.
Notably, employee engagement as early as the planning process emerges as a key success factor. Indeed, in successful transformations, executives say that identifying underlying mindsets that would need to change was the approach used most often. Moreover, three-quarters of the respondents whose companies broke down their change process into clearly defined smaller initiatives and whose transformations were "extremely successful" say that staff members were entirely or very able to participate in shaping those change initiatives. Click here to read the full article.
Employee engagement, as we all know, remains at the top of our list in effort to achieve true success in the workplace. I thank Derek Irvine for this quote...
“People engage with a sense of meaning, of purpose, of an understanding of fair play, of company values aligned with their personal values. The sum of all of this is your company culture.”
Over years of research and client work, we've identified a few tactics that help drive successful transformational change--any large-scale change, such as going from good to great performance, cutting costs or turning around a crisis. In a research study conducted by surveying executives from around the world, we've dug into just how companies apply some of these tactics. We found that a few approaches in each area are most tightly correlated with successful transformations of both short-term performance and long-term corporate effectiveness, or "health."
By looking at the approaches used by companies that executives describe as most successful in transforming themselves, we found evidence suggesting the importance of engaging employees collaboratively throughout the company and throughout the transformation journey. In addition, a focus on strengths and achievements, not just problems, throughout the entire transformation process is strongly tied to success.
Notably, employee engagement as early as the planning process emerges as a key success factor. Indeed, in successful transformations, executives say that identifying underlying mindsets that would need to change was the approach used most often. Moreover, three-quarters of the respondents whose companies broke down their change process into clearly defined smaller initiatives and whose transformations were "extremely successful" say that staff members were entirely or very able to participate in shaping those change initiatives. Click here to read the full article.
Employee engagement, as we all know, remains at the top of our list in effort to achieve true success in the workplace. I thank Derek Irvine for this quote...
“People engage with a sense of meaning, of purpose, of an understanding of fair play, of company values aligned with their personal values. The sum of all of this is your company culture.”
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
iPhone app to target employee engagement
The Assessment and Development Group International (ADGI), the developer of Organizational Management System, has released Interact 1.0, a new app for iPhone and iPod touch users. The program aims to help create management strategies complete with specific tactics tailored to each employee’s motivation, talents, and worldview.
The application functions by stratifying reports for each employee which include the talents the person seeks to use on the job, the person’s work environment preferences and needs, and the specific management behaviors that will work most successfully with the employee’s motivation and style. The management behaviors are generated through the app’s comparative analysis of the traits and behavioral styles of the manager and each employee.
People seek to be understood for who they are and what they can contribute. By introducing a more objective, realistic understanding of each person along with the specific guidance and tactics to develop greater commitment and engagement with the job, Interact is a powerful personal productivity tool leading to higher performing, more satisfied employees who stay longer. Click here to read the full article.
What do you think? Can an iPhone application really hold its own when it comes down to employee engagement?
The application functions by stratifying reports for each employee which include the talents the person seeks to use on the job, the person’s work environment preferences and needs, and the specific management behaviors that will work most successfully with the employee’s motivation and style. The management behaviors are generated through the app’s comparative analysis of the traits and behavioral styles of the manager and each employee.
People seek to be understood for who they are and what they can contribute. By introducing a more objective, realistic understanding of each person along with the specific guidance and tactics to develop greater commitment and engagement with the job, Interact is a powerful personal productivity tool leading to higher performing, more satisfied employees who stay longer. Click here to read the full article.
What do you think? Can an iPhone application really hold its own when it comes down to employee engagement?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Strong corporate culture 'can benefit firms'
Firms which develop a strong corporate culture can gain competitive advantages over their rivals, it has been suggested.
Writing on Emirates Business 24/7, Jeffrey Saltzman recommended that companies attempt to create an environment where workers feel rewarded, valued and developed, which may interest those running employee recognition schemes.
He explained that this can allow businesses to gain strength from their workforce, which could be more loyal and productive because of the support offered by employers.
Mr Saltzman also advised firms to communicate their corporate culture and values to their workers.
"Organizations that clearly define who they are and what they expect from those inside the organization are the ones that excel in using corporate culture to their advantage," he wrote in the article. Click here to read the full article.
Writing on Emirates Business 24/7, Jeffrey Saltzman recommended that companies attempt to create an environment where workers feel rewarded, valued and developed, which may interest those running employee recognition schemes.
He explained that this can allow businesses to gain strength from their workforce, which could be more loyal and productive because of the support offered by employers.
Mr Saltzman also advised firms to communicate their corporate culture and values to their workers.
"Organizations that clearly define who they are and what they expect from those inside the organization are the ones that excel in using corporate culture to their advantage," he wrote in the article. Click here to read the full article.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Sims are everywhere
A medical simulation application from BioDigital can teach medical residents the high-technology procedure for lung resection of the upper lobe – a treatment commonly used to treat resectable lung cancers.
“The BioDigital Human platform can replicate almost any type of surgical procedure in a realistic interactive 3D virtual environment,” said Aaron Oliker, partner and director of 3D technology at BioDigital.
"[The device] allowed us to accurately reproduce the feeling of moving and manipulating the surgical tools within the patient's anatomy - and the flexibility to tailor the tactile experience in follow-on training solutions," explained Oliker.
Touch-enabled simulators allows trainees to practice their skills on computers, with no risk to patients and without the costly practice on cadavers or cadaveric organ blocks. The simulator can also collect data on residents’ progress and skill level as they practice. Click here to read the full article.
Simulations are everywhere. A simulation-based approach to learning allows people to gain a greater understanding of the skills need to master the trade. In our case, simulations allow people to experience the consequences of their actions in a realistic but risk free business environment.
“The BioDigital Human platform can replicate almost any type of surgical procedure in a realistic interactive 3D virtual environment,” said Aaron Oliker, partner and director of 3D technology at BioDigital.
"[The device] allowed us to accurately reproduce the feeling of moving and manipulating the surgical tools within the patient's anatomy - and the flexibility to tailor the tactile experience in follow-on training solutions," explained Oliker.
Touch-enabled simulators allows trainees to practice their skills on computers, with no risk to patients and without the costly practice on cadavers or cadaveric organ blocks. The simulator can also collect data on residents’ progress and skill level as they practice. Click here to read the full article.
Simulations are everywhere. A simulation-based approach to learning allows people to gain a greater understanding of the skills need to master the trade. In our case, simulations allow people to experience the consequences of their actions in a realistic but risk free business environment.
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