James ‘Jim’ K. Clifton, CEO and Chairman of Gallup the polling organisation, kicks today’s managers into touch. He suggests that through Gallup’s research he has identified 5 factors of employee involvement and places the blame squarely with managers and chief executives for disinterested staff.
First he points out that chief executives do not care about their people no matter what they say: they care about results.
Second he suggest people identify more with their work role today than in the past because other social aspects of life falling in importance. This means that if find your job is rubbish, you probably feel the same about your life too.
Third high productivity (like generally in the USA) does not come from high levels of staff involvement, but despite very low levels of involvement. Imagine how high productivity could be if everyone were engaged not just the top twenty or so percent?
Fourth, a staff member’s manager is probably the most important factor in job satisfaction and employee involvement.
Fifth, despite the professionalisation of management we have “lousy managers” who focus so much on cost cutting they have forgotten about caring for the customer and delivering revenues.
Feisty stuff from Mr Clifton. More here
