Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Rosie Ward, Ph.D. We hope you enjoy Rosie’s wisdom and perspective.
Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t publish an article on the “war on talent” and the need for recruiting and retaining good people. Setting aside the irony of referring to attracting, engaging, and keeping good people as a “war,” it is important for companies to pay attention and work to close the gaps from where they are and where they need to be for their organization and its people to thrive; otherwise, they will struggle to find good people and grow – let alone survive.
Corp Magazine recently published an article outlining six human resources trends highlighting where 2017 is headed. Among the list are flexibility; providing meaningful work and fostering people feeling personally connected to the company and its vision and values; and focusing on engaging increasingly autonomous and mobile employees. Nowhere on this list were things like trying to “get” employees to be healthier via wellness programs or offering more perks and benefits. People want something more meaningful and authentic.
Another recent article in Entrepreneur identified the common characteristics of the top 15 workplace cultures in America. Again, perks like free food, nap lounges, Ping Pong tables, and yoga classes are not what makes organizations great. These top workplaces have strong cultures rooted in being true to their WHY so they live their core values from the inside out; their WHY is embraced by everyone in the company. Here are some of the other lessons they can teach us for why they are so successful:
- Value and care about everyone in the company
- Open dialogue and authentic communication
- Make work meaningful
- Be inclusive (include employees in decisions that affect them)
- Hire thoughtfully for cultural fit
- Lead to serve others to be the best version of themselves
These characteristics are also shared by the wildly successful Firms of Endearment (FoEs), such as Google, Southwest Airlines, Patagonia, New Balance, Costco, and The Container Store, to name a few as well as the Deliberately Developmental Organizations (DDOs) like Next Jump and Bridgewater who center their companies around transformative growth of their people. To put it simply, thriving organizations put their people first – really!
Fortunately, we’re starting to see a refreshing, growing trend as more business leaders continue to awaken and embrace the realities of the 21st century and complexities of being human; people are hard-wired for autonomy, mastery, and purpose. With that, the future of thriving, successful organizations is creating the conditions where people can bring their best selves to work – and home – each day. This means the organization, first and foremost, needs to be clear about its WHY (its purpose and core values), have leaders that truly care for their people and support them in growing and thriving, and have meaningful and transparent communication. Then, and only then, can programs and resources to support individual wellbeing be effective and enhance the entire employee experience.
I’m encouraged by the revolution that is underway in putting people back to the forefront. It’s time to move away from outdated, control-oriented leadership practices and wellness programs and start using sound science and practices to bring us into the 21st century and make “the war on talent” irrelevant.
This content was written and shared by guest blogger Rosie Ward, Ph.D.
Rosie Ward, PhD, MPH, MCHES, BCC, CIC* is one of the top speakers in the country on organizational and employee wellbeing. Her high energy, lively, and engaging presentations have made her a sought-after speaker for HR, leadership, wellness, and benefit conferences. She is a consultant, professional coach, and author known as a thought leader who challenges the status quo, pushes boundaries, and engages people and organizations to find success through shifting old, ineffective thinking habits. She has a diverse background with over 20 years of experience promoting wellbeing, employee engagement, and transforming organizations in various settings. As CEO and co-founder of Salveo Partners, LLC, Dr. Ward consults with organizations, blending the worlds of Organizational Development and employee wellbeing to provide a unique approach to create thriving workplace cultures that free, fuel, and inspire people to bring their best selves to work. She is co-author of the popular book “How to Build a Thriving Culture at Work, Featuring the 7 Points of Transformation,” and a contributing author to the book “Organization Development in Healthcare: High Impact Practices for a Complex and Changing Environment.”
Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn and Twitter, and via her website.
