Inward Blog
Abundant Mentality Can Transform Your Company To Greatness
August 18, 2015
When I was in the advertising business at Young & Rubicam many years ago, we were divided into brand groups that would compete against each other for the best idea. We would work hard to come up with insights in collaborative teams of three people. We would then come together and present our ideas to the management supervisor and/or creative director who would bestow their judgments on the ideas from each brand group. The process worked to an extent, but it created a competitive environment filled with jealousy, political intrigue, and favoritism. In my opinion it wasn’t always a level playing field that was based on meritocracy. I always wondered how it could be improved upon if we all worked on the same idea together.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 11:00am
Abundant Mentality, Collective Efforts, Teamwork, Office Politics, Multi-voting
Change For The Sake Of Change Is Not The Best Strategy
August 13, 2015
Whenever a new executive comes into an organization, the natural inclination is to change strategies, brand positioning, or just executional direction. Often this change is made without regard to the level of engagement around the current efforts, or the momentum that may exist in the organization. Now don’t get me wrong! The power to change is the power to grow. John F. Kennedy once said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” But change for change’s sake can be more damaging to your efforts towards creating an engaged and inspired workforce than no change at all. Some leaders change things they shouldn’t change and don’t change those they should. John Luke Jr., Chairman and CEO of global packaging giant, MeadWestvaco, said 'Change simply for the sake of change is an abdication of leadership'.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Leadership, Change Management, Competitive Landscape, Research
Sustaining An Employee Engagement Campaign Over Time
August 11, 2015
This is the final submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about metrics and ROI. In this post, I will discuss the importance of sustaining a long-term employee engagement program.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 11:00am
Employee Engagement, Long-Term, Budgets, Sustainability, Strategic
There’s Nothing Wrong With The Past - Unless We Live There
August 6, 2015
Our view of the world is shaped by the sum of our experiences, relationships, and the values and beliefs we learned from our families and friends. So are we simply victims of our past, or can we reshape the lens through which we see the world? Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you’re right.” I would suggest that this quote represents how effective leaders deal with their past to increase their ability to lead, influence and engage others.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Leadership, Learning From Mistakes, Experience, Engagement, Reflection
It's All About Measurement - Observations On Internal Communications Measurement
August 4, 2015
This is the tenth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about project management for smooth implementation. In this post I will discuss the importance of metrics and ROI.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 11:00am
The Difference Between A Dream And A Vision Is A Plan To Get There
July 30, 2015
Effective decision making is one of the key traits of a strong leader. On one end of the scale, there are leaders who always look for one more piece of data or evidence before making a decision and often end up in analysis paralysis. On the other hand, there are those leaders who make impulsive decisions, with no input from others or facts to support their position. There is never a decision that can be made with 100% guarantee of the desired outcome. Effective leaders find the balance between analysis / input and pulling the trigger.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Seven Necessary Skills For Effective Program Management
July 28, 2015
This is the ninth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about recognizing and rewarding people. In this post I will discuss the importance of project management for smooth implementation.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 12:00pm
Employee Engagement, Program Management, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Communication
Bad Attitudes Look for Company, Not Correction
July 23, 2015
You’ve heard it said a number of times from recruiters. I would rather hire someone with a great attitude and willingness to improve their skills than someone with great skills and a bad attitude. In a quest for a highly engaged workforce, a bad attitude can quickly derail a team. Effective leaders need to address bad attitudes head on, rather than let them grow and become the driver for a disengaged team.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Employee Engagement, Attiudes, Employee Behavior, Leadership, Ambassador
Inexpensive And Effective Reward And Recognition Programs
July 21, 2015
This is the eighth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about the creation of logo lockups and taglines. In this post I will discuss the importance of recognition and rewarding people.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 2:00pm
Employee Engagement, Rewards, Recognition, Peer-To-Peer, Incentives
Are You Inspiring Others By Balancing Your Work And Other Things That Are Important To You?
July 16, 2015
In a book he wrote before he died of lymphoma, Paul Tsongas, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts made the statement that “ No one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office’”. Today, in our fast paced world, work/life balance can be a challenge. And yet, effective leaders find a way to balance the things that are important to them and to their relationship with others. An engaged workforce is one in which people are passionate about what they do and that passion is driven by both the work they are doing and the values and beliefs reflected in their behavior. One of the primary motivators for employees today is the opportunity to have an impact. It’s not just about the compensation. It’s about doing meaningful work and making a difference. And that happens when people are able to find a balance between their work and other things that are important to them and to those around them.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Employee Engagement, Work/Life Balance, Internal Alignment, Decision Making, Time Management