Herman Trend Alert: Engaged Employees Increase Bottom Line Performance

According to a recent survey by Sibson Consulting, employee engagement remains low. Sibson defines employee engagement slightly differently than we do: "Employees knowing what to do and wanting to do it." (We typically use the Conference Board’s definition: "A heightened emotional connection that an employee feels for his or her organization, that influences the individual to exert greater discretionary effort to his or her work.")

You might expect that anyone with a job during these challenging economic times would be happy to have one. However, Sibson’s research shows close to half of today’s employees are not happy at work, and the cost to employers is substantial. Employees who considered themselves engaged represented only 52 percent of those surveyed. The most engaged employees linked their positive feeling about work to management. The top four reasons for employee engagement were support of the employee, understanding of performance management, trust in management and performance management effectiveness.

According to Gallup Inc. research conducted on employee perceptions of work conditions, doing a better job engaging employees has a direct affect on a company’s bottom line.

Gallup psychologist James Harter, a researcher in Omaha, NE, examined 10 companies’ employee satisfaction surveys, employee retention rates, customer loyalty and financial performance. He found a direct relationship between employee satisfaction and overall company performance. Gallup’s results indicated that when employees have positive perceptions of their jobs, their organizations experience higher employee retention, increased customer loyalty and improved financial outcomes. The journal Perspectives on Psychological Science published Harter’s research.

Reading between the lines, we can easily infer that having positive perceptions of their jobs will result in higher levels of employee engagement. Harter added some advice to managers: Help increase job satisfaction and help your organization by clarifying expectations for employees. Help "employees see the ultimate outcomes the organization is working to achieve and how they play a role in achieving those outcomes.”

It is vital for employers to recognize that if they do not pay attention to negative feedback from their employees, they will be in trouble when the coming recovery arrives. They can expect unprecedented churning. Wise employers are looking at what they have to do now to address this situation and if they take action, they will reap the financial rewards.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Herman Trend Alert

Herman Trend Alerts are written by Joyce Gioia, a strategic business futurist, Certified Management Consultant, author, and professional speaker. Archived editions are posted at http://www.hermangroup.com/archive.html.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

Read Full Article