Levels of Aspiration

Do you have a “level of aspiration” when it comes to your work and career? When you mash Tamara Dembo’s and Kurt Lewin’s “level of aspiration” theory with David McClelland’s work on achievement motivation an interesting concept starts to take shape.  Some of us will reach a level within our work or career and will not desire to go any higher.  According to McClelland some of us are just not born with a high desire to achieve.  But of course some of us are.  Makes sense, right?

So if this makes sense why do companies tie themselves in knots trying to figure out why employees may not want to reach the corner office, become a partner, or at the very least take that next promotion?  Now of course this is the opposite of the Peter Principle (which is being promoted to a level of incompetence).  If you have a boss who suffers from the Peter Principle – remember he or she allowed themselves to be promoted to that level (and they may not be aware of their incompetence, which is always the kicker).

But I digress. The level a person wants to reach in terms of title, responsibility, expected connectivity and stress is different for each person and in society we tend to frown upon those who don’t aspire for more.  But is the reality that there is a lack of desire to become a corporate executive alive and well?

One new study from Intelligent Office (IO) found in a survey of 1,075 people no one, not even one person, aspired to become a corporate executive.  More than half, 65%, want to work as an entrepreneur or independent.  The “Work IQ” survey found a shift in work styles as well with an emphasis on more flexible work hours, have more mobility in life, and access to technology (like laptop or iPad) that affords the desired mobility.

The survey results bring up three thoughts for me…
1. Were the results a fluke due to our economic environment?  I mean there are approximately  157,000 students in MBA schools across the country (rough estimate from AACSB accredited schools).  Aren’t most MBAs in school because the masters degree could lead to the next promotion and possibly to a position as a corporate executive?
2. IO didn’t provide a breakdown of the demographics in the release so I’m not sure if their survey respondents reflect more of our working society versus their customer base (Intelligent Office is the leading virtual, professionally staffed office space for mobile executives and small businesses in North America).  If the respondents mirror their customer base then the results make sense.  If the respondents mirror more of the workforce as a whole then the results are a cause for concern.
3. Considering the results mirror our current workforce then it does mean a new trend is being highlighted.  Could a shortage of corporate executives be on the horizon, exacerbated by the Baby Boomer retirements?

What would a shortage of potential corporate executives mean for your company?

There’s an Employee Appreciation Day?

Did you know last Friday, March 2 was Employee Appreciation Day?  Yep, just one day on a random Friday that I guess probably went unnoticed by your boss or at your office.  And thank goodness it did.  Can you imagine celebrating Employee Appreciation Day when your company doesn’t appreciate employees in general – makes for an uncomfortable pizza or cake party?  Reminds me of a client meeting last year when it was mentioned that “Administrative Professionals Day” was coming up and they all quickly grabbed their phones and made a note of it. It’s like grandparents day too.  If it takes a day for you to recognize and thank your employees or assistant (or even your grandparents)…you might be dealing with a bigger problem. 

Why does it take a publicized day to remind you to thank those who make your life better (assuming your employees, assistant and grandparents actually make your life easier)?  In theory we understand the statement that companies don’t function without their employees is true but sometimes theory and practice couldn’t be farther apart.  You, and every boss or leader at your company should be showing your appreciation to employees often and for reasons that matter.   So what are the reasons that matter?  Here’s a bright idea…ask them.  Those employees can be quite clever and they typically know what matters to them in terms being recognized because they are appreciated.  I’ll give you a few ideas to get started when recognition and appreciation is needed…taking on a stretch project no matter the outcome, going above and beyond the “typical” work load, coaching or mentoring another employee, dealing with a  difficult client, trying to stay focused on work when dealing with a personal issue…and there are so many more. 

Also, don’t show appreciation for just showing up – that is hollow and meaningless.  One of the greatest ways to show appreciation is to thank your employees individually for their contribution and explaining how their contribution matters to the company.  Make the connection to how they matter to the work they do, to the company’s clients and the company overall.  When you are able to consistently show your appreciation you’ll never think twice about a throwing an awkward pizza party on some random Friday in March to remind your employees you care and they matter.

Culture vs Strategy…Who Wins

So what is more important, culture or strategy?  You know you need both but which is more important? If you’ve ever heard one of my employee engagement or generational diversity presentation you know what the answer is and you know why.  As said best by Peter Drucker: 

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Research abounds regarding how culture impacts the success of a company – its profitability, its ability to innovate, and gain market share.  I recently read Derek Irvine’s blog post on TLNT “4 Reasons Why Culture is More Important than Strategy.” In the post Derek highlights recent research from Booz & Co. which adds more data and statistics to the “culture vs. strategy” debate.  Booz & Co. reports “that companies with unsupportive cultures and poor strategic alignment significantly under perform their competitors…. In fact, companies with both highly aligned cultures and highly aligned innovation strategies have 30% higher enterprise value growth and 17% higher profit growth than companies with low degrees of alignment.” [Read the article, Why Culture is Key in Strategy +Business.] 

I wonder how many business leaders, CFOs and board chairmen and chairwomen read those stats and actually believe them.  Do they think the P&L or expansion plans are the only facets of the business that matter?  I mean matter enough to garner a healthy dose of their attention?  I’m sure some thought is given to the office atmosphere but culture is more than that.

Culture can be defined in many ways (as the research abounds so do the books on the topic). A consultant and friend defined culture once as “…how we treat our co-workers.” But at the heart of it culture sets the tone of how the company operates and functions.  Culture manifests itself in seemingly everyday ways – like how the office is decorated, the stories employees share (especially to new employees), and the informal communication style.  And culture manifests itself in larger ways – like the values (and unwritten rules) the employees embrace and live out and the type of person (a hero) employees look up to.

The research supports it, the management gurus speak to it and past experiences prove it’s worth (ask anyone of the risk taking culture embedded at Enron)…is your leader on board?  Are you?

Employee Engagement Wish

My wish this holiday season is not very simple. I wish that every employee enjoyed going to work. That doesn’t mean every day is a holiday but when asked if you enjoy what you do you would be able to honestly answer “Yes.”

Research shows you are engaged to a job, career or the work you do in three ways…

1. To your individual job – the function of your work, having resources and clear direction

2. To your manager – trust in your manager, quality time

3. To the company overall – the direction of the company, how decisions are made, comp & benefits

When one of the three falls out of alignment an employee becomes less engaged, less committed, less satisfied and most importantly…less productive.  The reason I started Randall Research (formerly SBR Consulting, LLC) is to help companies create work environments where employees want to come to work.  We spend a majority of our time working so it should at the very least be enjoyable and fulfilling, right?

Research shows that engaged employees outperform their disengaged co-workers by as much as 200% and are more productive by 43% in revenue generation.  What does 43% more revenue generation mean for your company’s bottom line?

Think back to a time when you enjoyed your job (maybe that time is now for you).  How productive were you? Were you willing to go above and beyond for your team or to meet organizational goals? I believe that a small team of engaged employees can outperform, out-maneuver and out-smart a big team of partially engaged or dis-engaged employees.

I explain engagement this way…engaged employees stay for what they contribute and dis-engaged employees stay for what they get.  Which do you prefer on your team?

So my wish for 2012 is for companies to get serious about understanding what engagement means for their employees and commit to making progress.  Start with an employee engagement survey, share the results with your employees, together create a roadmap for change and hold the company accountable through metrics for moving the needle. 

Here’s to a successful and engaging 2012!

Did the PwC Chairman read my Accounting Today article?

In October of last year I published an article in Accounting Today magazine titled “Managing the Millennials…Firms must deal with their changing expectations.”  In the article I discuss how accounting firms are finding themselves stuck between the way the business has been run for decades and the changing expectations of Millennials as they consider their long-range career track. I made the argument that :

“Accountants and auditors are valued precisely because of their deep knowledge and expertise, so radically altering the business model is unrealistic. Yet the looming demand for accounting services and the shrinking talent pool give urgency to finding ways to accommodate the expectations of young workers.” 

Millennials want to develop their skills, be challenged and not pigeonholed into one job or function for the rest of their career (sound familiar?).  Cross-training is considered a valuable growth opportunity as Millennials develop skills that give them mobility. In the article I urge accounting firms to start the conversation now on how to better grow and develop this need in their young talent. 

Well is seems the PricewaterhouseCoopers Chairman Dennis Nally may have read my article.  In a recent issue of The Wall Street Journal, when asked what is the biggest challenge for companies when trying to recruit talented staff, Nally responded with:

“This millennial generation is not just looking for a job, they’re not just looking for salary and financial benefits, they’re looking for skill development, they’re looking for mobility, they’re looking for opportunities to acquire different skills and to move quickly from one part of an organization to another. How you manage that sort of talent and how you deal with their expectations is very different from what’s been done in the past.” (July 11, 2011, “PwC Chairman Aims to Keep Millennials Happy”)

Mr. Nally – I couldn’t agree more and if my article helped you formulate your people strategy I am pleased it was of use to you. To other companies, not just accounting firms, it is time to understand how the needs of the Millennials regarding career growth and future expectations are changing your workplace and workforce. 

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*Please note – SBR Consulting, LLC is becoming Randall Research… Data-driven solutions for people-driven companies™.  Our services have not changed but our new name better reflects our core mission of using data to drive employee engagement and productivity.  Our new website will be www.randallresearch.com. *

The Employee Experience…Not Just For Millennials

Our expert series continues as we look deeper at the survey results released in the Millennial Generation Today: Impact of economic environment on recruitment, retention and engagement white paper.  We are speaking with Bob Dean who is the Director of the North American business for Profiling Online, a global talent management solutions company. Bob has served as a senior executive for learning and talent management for Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton and Heidrick & Struggles. In 2006, he became one of the first ten people in the world to be certified in the models and frameworks of the The Experience Economy.  Bob uses this certification to design, develop, and deliver transformational customer and employee experiences for his clients.

Q: What are your initial thoughts on the survey results?

A: The survey covered information that is relevant today.  When you consider the financial meltdown and all that has happened in our country, and the world, information or articles on one generation from three years ago may not necessarily be as relevant today.

Q: Where or why have companies lost their way in engaging employee over the last few years?

A: Many corporate cultures have failed to adapt in the last 10 years.  Companies need to get back to their core values and what they stand for.  Companies should consider what culture they currently have and if it is the type of culture they need to sustain their businesses.  If it is a sustainable culture then the communication with employees has to change and have substance.  Communication has changed dramatically and communicating with employees is more than just an intranet or Facebook page.

Companies, especially large ones, have historically thought anything they needed to know as an organization they could find by tapping into their employees, their inside collective knowledge.  When they needed to know something they went to their employee source.  But what happens to companies when a large number of the employees leave through a layoff?  That company’s collective knowledge is now out in the market place.  And the marketplace now mirrors what the company once was in terms of knowledge. 

A company is either a closed culture or an open culture and those that are closed have lost their way and are not quick to understand the value of talent and tapping into collective knowledge. 

Q: Explain the employee experience concept?

A: Millions and billions of dollars is spent on corporate learning and development.  If you assess the retention and application of what’s covered in training sessions – it is maybe 20%.  So, much of the training has become a “check the box” activity.  Companies, spending that kind of money, need to get more out of their investment, should want to get more out of their investment.  The idea of the employee experience is to design learning experiences that deliver and make an impact.  Think about getting coffee at Starbucks versus your home.  It is the personal experience that differentiates what you remember and apply (in this case choosing to return to Starbucks).  The employee experience was adapted from The Experience Economywritten by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore in 1999.  I was certified in this book in 2006.  The concept started with differentiating the customer experience through customization and has been adapted for the employee experience. You can learn more at www.strategichorizons.com.

Thank you Bob for your time and expertise.  I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with our readers.

Expert Interview Series: Market Movement

Our expert series continues with a Q&A with Melissa McGuire, CEO and founder of Sherpa.  Sherpa is a Charlotte-based staffing, recruiting and consulting agency focused on the fields of accounting & finance, technology and project management.  You can find them online at www.sherpallc.com. 

Q: As mentioned in our white paper (The Millennial Generation Today: The economic environment impact to recruitment, retention and engagement), there have been numerous recently released statistics regarding people looking to make a move and our research showed 70% of Millennials were considering the possibility of changing jobs. What is your reaction to these type of statistics?

A: I believe the statistics. First of all, I believe a large percentage of all employees are considering changing jobs. Never before have I heard so many people express so much stress about their jobs. Most have worked harder than ever during the recession and have received fewer rewards: lower or no bonuses, less 401k matching, less job security, higher health care costs, etc. Additionally, because of fears of layoffs and pressure to produce results has lowered morale in many companies. I don’t track millennials because I don’t look at age when evaluating people, but those newer to the work force are likely to be disillusioned with their jobs and believe there are greener pastures. However, I do believe that most will find better times if they stay in their current jobs. But, the trust has been broken, so many will probably leave.

Q: Do you see movement of those currently employed starting to pick up or has it held steady throughout the recession?

A: I have seen people very reluctant to change jobs during the recession. Instead, they hung on to them, even if they didn’t like them. It is the increase in confidence in the economy that is creating the environment for job changing. There are more jobs to move to and there is a little less fear of being the “last one in” at a company, which is the fear that they could be the first one out if the company had layoffs.

Q: When your recruiters contact passive candidates (those currently employed) are they more willing to consider an opportunity you may be calling about than they were 2 or 3 years ago?

A: Definitely.

Thanks Melissa for taking the time to answers our questions.  We appreciate your insight and know the statistics have some of those responsible for retaining their current talent very nervous. 

As a reminder, the white paper is available for download at www.sbrconsult.com.

New Research Release: What we need to know NOW about our largest generation

The Millennial Generation Today: Impact of the economic environment on recruitment, retention and engagement white paper is available online at www.sbrconsult.com.  The white paper is available complimentary.

Almost 1,200 Millennials (21 to 30 years old) participated in the national online survey to gauge how this generation feels about working in corporate America, thoughts on future employment decisions, and changing consideration of what’s important about work and their future. 

So what did our survey find? Here are a few key highlights…

• We have entered a “flight pattern” of workers wanting to find new employment opportunities. 70% of Millennials say there is a possibility they will change jobs.
• Women are more likely than men to consider leaving.
• Top three priorities are compensation, flexible work schedule and opportunity to make a difference.
• Despite the economic reality, 70% are positive about their future in general.
• Only 41% make saving for retirement a priority.

Results include findings on Millennials and the Workplace (will they stay or go, what’s important and the continual layoff affect), the Education Debate (high cost versus ROI and does your degree work for you?) and Future Visions (retirement, entrepreneurism and CSR impact). 

Take a moment and read through the white paper and then let us know your thoughts on the results.  We look forward to engaging in conversation with you.

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Follow our blog over the next few months as we talk with experts from areas related to our findings to dig deeper into the story of our data.  Up first is Shay Prosser, author of Get It Together – The Real-World Money Guide for Graduates.  She’ll discuss her thoughts on the retirement findings and the financial impact of our new economic normal on this generation. Look for her blog interview on Monday, May 23, 2011.

Drivers of Employee Engagement

If you have not watched the 10-minute YouTube clip by Daniel Pink on motivation you need to.  It sums up what motivates workers, backed by research and replicated by scientists (which means it has the academia seal of approval).  The clip, in conjunction with RSA Animate, is titled Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us.  

Don’t have time to watch the clip?  Here is the cliff note version with a focus on three key drivers of motivation and engagement. 

Autonomy – Listen closely to part about Atlassian (an Australian software company) – once a quarter on a Thursday afternoon the company allows employees to work on whatever you want, the way you want, with whomever you want (beer and cake included) for 24 hours.  The only caveat – employees are asked to share the results of what they worked on with company at end of 24 hours (one day).  Providing freedom and autonomy has yielded amazing results for the company including new products, fixes to existing software, etc. 

Mastery – Why do highly skilled, technically sophisticated people who have paying jobs spend their limited free time doing equally or more technically sophisticated work for FREE?  Because they want and like challenges and want to master a skill like learning to play an instrument on the weekends. 

Purpose – The need is not just for work to matter but for the work to have purpose, transcendent purpose.  It makes coming to work better and attracts better talent.  “When the profit motive become unmoored from the purpose motive – bad things happen like crappy products, bad service, and sometimes illegal acts.” 

When you consider the three key drivers to motivation – how does your company stack up in creating a culture that embraces giving employees autonomy to do their job, the resources to master skills and purpose in the work one does?  It’s a tall task and if it is not embedded in the culture it won’t happen overnight.  The first step is to acknowledge the current practices around these three drivers (micro-managers beware), determine where the disconnect and gaps are and then consider creating an action plan to put autonomy, mastery and purpose into your leadership’s vocabulary and then into every day practice.  

What motivates or drives you to be a contributor at work?

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As a reminder, SBR Consulting’s e² survey (employee engagement matters) measures how engaged and motivated employees are and where a company should focus their resources to have the greatest impact to engagement, retention and the bottom line.  Call me at 704.363.7151 or email me at stacey@sbrconsult.com for more information or to get started.

Freshman Today, Your Employees in 2014

February 21, 2011:  What does it mean for future employers if the self-rated emotional health of their future workforce is the lowest it has been since 1985 (when the question was first asked and tracked)?  According to The American Freshman by the HERI (Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA) there has been a decrease in the number of freshman that report high levels of emotional health and an increase in the number of freshman that report being frequently “overwhelmed by all I have to do” as high school seniors.  Even more unsettling is the difference between men and women freshman…38.8% of women felt stressed and overwhelmed as a high school senior versus 17.6% of men. 

If the stress levels continue what is the emotional state you can expect those new recruits to be in when they arrive on their first day at work?  Will adjustments be needed in the onboarding process? Will supervisors need to become sensitive (or more sensitive) to their emotional state?  Will over-coddling continue for this generation (or be the prescriptive consultants prescribe)?  I think this depends on how you value your employees.

Most companies have an EAP (employee assistance program) to help employees deal with emotional issues which are paid for by the company.  This allows the employee to see a counselor or clinician to work through their issues including addiction, stress, balance issues, etc. at no cost to the employee.  So it is safe to say that companies – to an extent – are currently aware that an employee’s emotional state impacts their productivity.  But for the most part EAPs are underutilized by employees and HR practioners will tell you their constant marketing of all the EAP has to offer falls on deaf ears. 

So what do we do?  First, new hires – especially those just out of college – need to learn about an EAP-type offering from their peers.  We all know that Millennials turn to their peers for guidance and advice on just about everything.  Second, additional soft skills training – like time management and dealing with stress – needs to be included in a new hires first year.  Finally, managers need to be clued in to recognize stress and overwhelming-type symptoms in their new hires and trained in how to deal with stress and productivity issues. 

There is no silver bullet answer but awareness of changing trends in our youngest employees is the first step to dealing with the issue and getting ahead of the issue before it derails a potential high performers.  As we all know, those high performers don’t just fall from the sky. 

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Are you 21 to 30 years old?  If so, we want your voice.  The last few years have been interesting to say the least and the Millennial Generation (Gen Y) has graduated or worked through one of the toughest economic periods in recent decades.  Take our confidential, online survey to share your thoughts on working in corporate America, future employment decisions, what’s important about work and your future.  The survey ends at midnight on March 1 so hurry up.  It’ll take less than 10 minutes to give us your opinions.  Survey link: http://bit.ly/fnN2tF.  Feel free to tweet out the link, share it with your friends and send it to your connections!