Blog Archive
Organisations
Businesses may be feeling optimistic about the impending economic recovery, but need to ask themselves just what effect the recession has had on their employees. Another black cloud looms.
Each Christmas as the fire begins to burn low and the full impact of culinary over-indulgence takes its effect, I find myself perusing the presents of others. This is not to say that there is any dissatisfaction with my shiny stockpile of gifts – far from it. It is more a combination of curiosity, downright nosiness and the lack of physical ability to move further than the length of the sofa by the end of the day.
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) has been around for many years. In fact, since the 50’s when the phrase was first used by academics and business leaders to identify and articulate the impact of global businesses on society. (I imagine the phrase was near strangled by the booms and busts of the 80’s and 90’s when the environment was not at the forefront of a businesses strategy).
I was amused to read an article in The Times today relating to a slating Facebook posting by the daughter of ousted General Motors Chief Executive Fritz Henderson, giving the company’s management a piece of her mind about the enforced exit of her father from the organisation.
I’ve been getting hot around the collar about the issue of board alignment this week, sparked in part by a masterclass with Intuitive Brands where the subject came up in the discussion.
I enjoyed a recent presentation by Steve Martin, CEO of the steel manufacturing Clugstone Group. He is one of the few, gutsy CEO’s prepared to be filmed ‘going undercover’ by Channel 4, in order to mix and work with employees on the front line of his steel construction company.
I was touched by this poem ‘Lost Generation’ by Jonathan Reed. It speaks of the negative, cynical viewpoint of a Gen Y individual, yet on reaching the end – and you have to follow the instructions – a message of positivity and a statement of intent shines through.
The government-commissioned MacLeod Review of Employee Engagement provides interesting reading and pulls together a myriad of statistics and case studies which all point to the consensus that engaged employees are more productive, efficient and are a major contributor to high performing businesses.
I was delighted to shoot in the only all-girls team yesterday at Peter Jones’ Fourth Annual Clay Pigeon Shoot in aid of the Peter Jones Foundation at the Royal Berkshire Shooting School as a guest of leading executive search firm Taylor Bennett. Heather McGregor, MD of Taylor Bennett and who also masquerades as the FT columnist Mrs Moneypenny, is a great shot and much fun to be with, as were the rest of the team. We came 4th out of 23 teams – no mean feat with some pretty daunting stands and high, fast birds and some equally competitive gents to contend with! But I digress…
In the political maelstrom that Britain is currently experiencing, much of the mud-slinging that’s been levelled at the Labour party this week has focused on the PM’s personality and style of leadership. It raises questions for many about leadership communication – how different personal styles influence people, and the importance of authenticity in order to maintain credibility.
Never knock a consultancy that has turned the economic downturn into a business opportunity. I have just read the findings of Stromberg Consultants’ ‘Workplace Fear Index’ Assessment (yes, an actual survey which you can undertake to measure the fear that exists in the workplace), which finds that one in three USA and UK employees are not only afraid to take risks, but a quarter of US employees are delaying decision-making through fear of losing their job. Worrying.
We are often asked how to tackle the cynics of an organisation when they are presented with a new strategy, or an important change message which impacts on the whole organisation. Storytelling can play a valuable role in changing attitudes – and ultimately behaviours – and we’ve seen it work time and time again.
I’m looking forward to a whistle-stop visit to Dubai next week, where I am speaking on Engaging Employees Through Storytelling at the 8th Middle East Conference & Expo.
15 Percy St is a hive of activity. Not that it wasn’t beforehand of course, but a new impetus has gripped the team as part of our ‘Fighting Back’ campaign.
Dave Ulrich told last week’s HR Leadership Alliance of Warren Buffet’s latest investment in GE and Goldman Sachs. Why? Not simply because of their performance, but because they are known to have excellent leaders.
Anyone who attended last week’s HR Leadership Alliance in London will know what I’m talking about. This is a phrase coined at the conference by HR Guru Dave Ulrich, who gave some fascinating insights into the role of HR in business today.
Halloween has come and gone and there may have been more than a few HR people feeling like the Grim Reaper than usual at this year. Slashing costs and making redundancies is never easy at the best of times – and never more so than now in the knowledge that it won’t be easy for people to find new jobs, particularly in the manufacturing, construction and, dare I say it, corporate finance sectors.
Steering through the economic crisis without being the victim of major headcount reduction, budget cuts and major restructures is going to depend on smart thinking, innovation and agility for every single organisation, and every single function with that organisation. And when push comes to shove, it’s going to be all about how you sell yourself, both to your customers and your employers.
The Olympics have been over for just over 24 hours and I’m already experiencing withdrawal symptoms. You couldn’t be anything but awe-struck at the monumental spectacle that Beijing has produced over the past fortnight. Terrific performances by so many athletes from so many countries, superb TV coverage (well done the BBC), incredible opening and closing ceremonies in an iconic venue, and flawless execution by the organisers.
McDonald’s UK HR Director, David Fairhurst, has recently pledged to continue to invest in training and recruitment (Personnel Today 22 July) to help the fast-food chain cope with the economic downturn. A brave statement, considering the widespread budget-cuts that are afflicting businesses as fears of a recession grow daily.
As The Times publishes its Times Top 100 companies to work for, it comes as little surprise that the focus of this article by Sue Leonard is on the costs that can be saved by keeping your staff happy. And keeping your staff happy has as much to do with employee engagement and maintaining personal and career growth opportunities as it does paying them a good salary.
Martin and I recently ran a couple of workshops at the CiB conference in Brighton, which focused on employee engagement. How I am beginning to resent that phrase ‘employee engagement’. I would much prefer to use the term ‘connectivity’. Perhaps that’s a subject for another day.
I’m in the middle of Allan Leighton’s book on Leadership, which is refreshingly honest and down to earth. It gives some fascinating insights from some of the captains of industry on the qualities of a good leader, illustrated through their own stories, drawn from their own experiences. Sir Philip Green, Surinder Arora, Stuart Rose, Jacqueline Gold, Richard Baker, Justin King, James Dyson….the list goes on.
I wish I had been a fly on the wall at the recent Management Today lunch discussion between some of the UK’s top corporate leaders (Adam Crozier, Royal Mail, Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP, David Brennan, AstraZeneca, Val Gooding, Bupa, Lord Crisp, ex-NHS, Paul Coby, BA, Jane McKenzie, Henley College, Miranda Kennett, First Class Coach and Ian Powell, PwC).
Communications consultancy CHA has recently published a report which highlights some fairly worrying news about the disengagement of employees and why they don’t seem to find their work worthwhile or meaningful.
Ernest Hemingway once claimed that his best story was written in six words: ‘For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.’ Perhaps this takes clarity and simplicity to the extreme, but what a way to spark the imagination! The Guardian challenged some contemporary authors to put forward their own six-word stories, which are worth a read.
Our own work focuses on making an organisation’s strategic story clear, simple and memorable. Imagine writing a strategic story in six words – anyone up for having a go?!!! I’d love to see what’s out there!
My attention was recently drawn to a particular blog from the MD of Waitrose. Apart from being most entertaining, it was a great example of leadership role-modelling, not to mention an excellent tool to bring the MD closer to his employees and customers as well as providing a great platform for health and nutrition for both customers and employees alike.
What makes a good leader? And more importantly, why? Here are seven ‘top tips’ for leaders who want to inspire their people, courtesy of The Practice of Leadership…
Interesting article from Simply Communicate on why storytelling should be promoted in business…
Great article from People Management this month on how Storytelling can be used to engage employees…