Employee Retention

Recently HR Review reported about a survey on Employee Engagement. According to the Gallup Engagement Survey only 24% of employees are engaged with their job. That is quite an alarming figure and something that employers need to tackle, especially in this current climate.

In a different survey by ACCOR, 90% of leaders say engagement impacts success, but 75% have no engagement plan.

So why are employee’s struggling to be engaged in their workplace? Is it poor leadership? Are there trust issues? Are the company’s values different to the employees? And what happens if employees are not engaged. Will they produce poor work, not want to involve themselves in projects, or leave and go and work for a competitor?

So how can you raise employee retention? Here are a few ideas:

Relationship with Manager – A recent Gallup poll revealed that a key indicator of employee satisfaction and productivity is employees’ belief that their boss cares about them and can be trusted.

Recognition and Appreciation – Some people are more driven by incentives other than money. Celebrate achievements both individually and as a team; write a note of thanks or recognition with honest, sincere appreciation.

Stimulating, Fulfilling Work – Include employees at the beginning of projects. Employees will be more enthusiastic and you will be surprised to see the creative results and different opinions that bubble up.

Clear Career Path and Opportunities – Providing training opportunities with respect to new skills and career development is an indication that a manager or company is willing to invest on behalf of employees. Encourage employees to join professional organizations by paying membership fees and giving the time off to attend lunches and conferences that foster professional growth.

Respect a Balanced Life – Acknowledging and respecting the importance of family and personal life of employees prevents burnout and fosters loyalty.

At Dale Carnegie we understand the need to engage with employees and gain their commitment. If you would like further tips then why not come along to our Inspirational Leadership Seminar on 24th August and 22nd September.

Helen Mills
Financial Controller
www.london.dalecarnegie.com

Team Work

Henry Ford said:
“Coming together is the beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”

He was talking about Team Work: When looking at the sporting arena, working with other organisations and also within our own business at Dale Carnegie I never cease to be impressed by the power of a team.

As I’m sure many other people did on Sunday, I watched Spain stand together for 2 hours against a strong and assertive Dutch team and come through with a fantastic goal in the dying minutes of the game to become World Champions. Football is a game that idolises and often rewards individual superstars, there is undeniably great individual talent in that Spanish team ..... but for those who understand the game it is no great surprise that the team with almost 50% more completed passes than any other team won the World Cup. Spain epitomised good team work across the tournament and went on to win.

Perhaps it’s a cliché but I feel that Football like business is a team game. When we start working with new organisations one of the first questions we ask is ‘What do you like about your business?’ In most successful organisations one of the first answers back is always ‘The people I work with.’

Looking to our own business, Dale Carnegie London business has grown by two new business consultants in the past few weeks and already I’m delighted with the energy that a larger team brings to the office. Building a strong team creates an energised work environment, people share ideas and best practice and we achieve far more than we would through working as individuals.

So if you’re looking to grow your business and your team remember these key principles:

1. Think about the people you bring into your existing team .... do the personalities fit.

2. Seek to create a positive fun working environment where people can share ideas and work together.

3. Trust your team to do a good job and give them the responsibility to achieve results.

4. Invest the time to coach and support your team and reward the right activities and results.

If you’d like to find out more about building the kind of team that will drive your business forward join us on the 3rd of August for the next preview of Leadership Training for Managers. Click here for more information

David Anderson
Managing Director

www.london.dalecarnegie.com

Tips for Staying Flexible

Think of yourself as stretchable, expandable and able to adapt to anything new. Who wants to view themselves as static, inflexible and unable to adapt? Periods of change are unpredictable, and we may be asked to adapt to changes that we never anticipated. In order to stay flexible, follow these guidelines:

1. Set short-term goals
It is best during changing times to think ahead, but not too far ahead. Focus on goals and tasks that can be achieved in the immediate future. That way we can achieve measurable and motivating results, even if the change plan is altered in some way. Instead of abandoning our efforts because of changing priorities, we complete our short-terms goals and move on.

2. Work in intense bursts of activity
Some people call this the “blitz mentality.” Complete tasks with intense periods of creative output that produce concrete results. That way we have measureable outcomes that motivate and inspire us to continue our work and, in the process, better engage change.

3. Focus on team efforts
Teams are in a constant state of changing responsibilities and deadline. By aligning ourselves with others who are aiming at similar goals, we create the opportunity for flexibility in achieving results. We become more focused on others and less likely to retreat into our own comfort zone. We gain motivation and inspiration from the other members of the team, making us more likely to successfully play a leadership role.

4. Plan for possible change scenarios
The most important strategy for staying flexible during change is to prepare for various change scenarios. If we create a plan for each possible set of change circumstances, we are prepared to engage change in any way that affects us in the workplace. This gives us more flexibility, greater confidence and makes us more likely to be successful in leading change without authority.

Click here to attend a free preview of our Leadership Training for Managers Programme

Engaging Employees during Times of Uncertainty

As a manager, turbulent times can be unsettling. Employees want to be upbeat, positive and encouraged about the future, but news about the economy, conversations with some customers and input from others in the organisation can often leave them feeling uncomfortable and unsure. So how do you balance these conflicting ideas, maintain a positive environment and keep employees focused on a positive future?

• Focus on Vision and Mission
  
  
• Develop Connections



• Create Ongoing Dialogue



• Encourage Empowerment
  

While there is rarely an easy answer to the unique issues that arise during times of turbulence, managers cannot retreat to the office and hope the situation will simply cure itself. Difficult times call for consistent leadership. Helping your team stay focused on the organisation's direction, their individual role in achieving that direction and encouraging them to develop new approaches for helping the organisation succeed are just a couple of ways that managers can help create an environment that continues to engage employees in uncertain times.

Join us for a complimentary session of the Engage & Inspire Your People seminar on 27th July from 8.45am - 10.45am! Click here to register

Corina Balaneanu
Sales Consultant

http://www.london.dalecarnegie.com/