For more than two decades, the Great Place to Work Institute has been developing an annual ranking of the best companies to work across 40 countries. The subsequent book, "The Great Workplace" was written in response to business leaders requiring practical advice on what they can do to create their own great workplace.
Using the institute's vast knowledge base, including a survey of two million people, to evaluate the cultures of 6,000 companies worldwide, the authors, senior consultant at the institute Michael Burchell, and research fellow at the institute Jennifer Robin, reveal what separates the great from the good, and how to avoid being downright awful.
Their findings highlight the five factors below that determine if an organization can be deemed a great place to work:
1. Employees believe in their leaders.
2. Believe they are valued by the organization.
3. Believe everyone is subject to the same rules.
4. Believe their contribution is meaningful.
5. Believe the people they work with are great.
Burchell and Robin claim that business and people issues are linked, and the way these are reconciled determines company culture. The benefits of getting this right include lower staff turnover and absenteeism, in addition to higher morale, productivity and profits. Thankfully it's not all theory, and key points are demonstrated with case studies, anecdotes and quotes from leaders and employees at the best companies such as Google, American Express, Microsoft and KPMG.
Many of the case studies provide innovative examples that most Bahamian organizations could implement. In one, a construction company challenges the balance between supporting and controlling employees by scrapping old style job descriptions and empowering workers to draft their own 'responsibility statements'. In another, a food retailer encourages support staff to help out on the shop floor during busy periods, thus enhancing teamwork and respect across the organization.
The authors conclude that irrespective of budget or size, "it's not what you do, it's how you do it" that matters, and changing your approach to how you manage employees costs nothing. They added that a high pay check and perks are not all that is required to keep employees happy, but a leader's ability to create trust, pride and camaraderie within their organization is critical.
The Great Workplace: How to Build it, How to Keep it and Why it Matters, by Michael Burchell and Jennifer Robin, published by Jossey-Bass and available from www.Amazon.com
Keith Appleton JP, BA (Hons), N.Dip.M, MInstLM has extensive experience within a managerial and strategic leadership role. His academic background and membership in the UK Institute of Leadership & Management underpins this. He can be contacted at KeithAppleton@Hotmail.co.uk.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
