Inward Blog
Viewing entries tagged with 'culture'
How Do You Reconcile The Need for Work-Life Balance with a Culture of High Engagement?
September 29, 2015
Work-Life balance has long been a topic of conversation when talking about issues that need to be addressed to increase employee engagement and satisfaction. I started my career as a public accountant. Especially during tax season, it was not unusual or unexpected for auditors to work 60 to 80 hours per week. When we thought about work-life balance, it meant that for those few hours when we were not working, the last thing we wanted to do was to think about the office or our jobs. There really was a very clear line between our work and personal life and they only converged if we attended a company social event like a holiday party. So when we attended social events or got together with family or friends, we directed our conversations and discussions to other things that were important to us, like friends, hobbies, family, travel, etc.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
70% Of The US Workforce Is Not Actively Engaged
September 15, 2015
Businesses are getting smarter every day. Big data and predictive analytics have allowed companies to operate more efficiently and effectively. Globalization has forced collaboration in real time from all ends of the Earth; fostering innovation as the array of knowledge inputs expands exponentially.
Posted by Matt Manning at 11:00am
Amazon’s Culture Takes A Hit In The Press
August 25, 2015
Over the last two weeks there have been some scathing reports and representations regarding Amazon’s culture. It was described in the New York Times article as being overly demanding, dismissive of personal issues, and an environment where tearing down the ideas of others in pursuit of excellence was considered the norm. It was cited that it is common to see people crying at their desks because of the stress. Jeff Bezos for his part seems to be in denial. He said in many reports that “this is not the Amazon he has come to recognize”. Maybe he should dig a little deeper.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 11:00am
What Is The Most Important Role In An Effective Organization?
June 4, 2015
Let me cut to the chase and then explain. Every role within an organization is equally important. To be clear, I’m not talking about which role carries the most responsibility, which one has the most exposure, or which one establishes vision and strategy. I’m talking about which role is most important to the success of an organization. For an organization to reach its vision and goals, EVERYONE has to do their job. Senior leaders can develop the most compelling strategy and vision in their industry, but successful execution of that strategy depends on everyone in the organization buying into that vision. Creating a culture of high employee engagement requires everyone to do their job and do it well. It does no good to develop and manufacture a great product if the sales people don’t sell it, the logistics team doesn’t deliver it, and the accountant doesn’t bill and collect payment for it.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Effective Organization Management, Employee Engagement, Cultural Alignment, Company Vision, Corporate Culture, Effective Leadership
Is culture really important?
May 7, 2015
Every organization has a culture, whether it’s clearly articulated or not. So what exactly is “culture”? Merriam Webster simply defines it as a “way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization.” Defining the culture always comes down to articulating the values and beliefs of the leadership. For example, if family values are a core belief of leadership, the culture will be one that supports a strong work/life balance focus. Or if innovation is important to the leadership, the culture will be one of continuous improvement and leadership in the market. Apple is an obvious example of an innovation culture. So if vision represents what an organization is trying to achieve, culture defines how people are going to behave and what values they are going to embrace while they strive to achieve that vision.
Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am
Company Culture, Mission, Vision & Values, Employee Engagement, Brand Engagement, Leadership
Spring Is (Almost) In The Air!
March 6, 2014
Here in the northeast, it feels as though this winter is never going to end, especially with all of this arctic air. Spring is on everybody’s mind as we count down the days to some warmer weather. As they always say, “March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.” With the hopes of warm air in the coming weeks of March, it is the perfect time to change up the vibe in the office. Right now, people are hindered by the winter doldrums, early darkness, and stuffy office air. Making some slight changes at the beginning of spring to your office can give your employees new found motivation and energy to power through the work weeks. Here are some easy, simple tips to make your employees feel refreshed and motivated at the office as the seasons change.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 9:49am
Infographic: Shocking Employee Engagement Statistics
February 20, 2014
An interesting infographic by Officevibe captures popular misconceptions regarding employee engagement in the workplace. It stresses the importance of having committed employees and the overall impact they have on the success of the company.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 5:45pm
Brand Engagement, company culture, employee engagement, employee incentives, employee satisfaction, Infographic, Internal Branding, leadership, Tips
The Power of Reciprocity in Business
February 11, 2014
The power of reciprocation is one of the strongest human elements that affect our behavior. A simple act of aid or generosity goes a long way. Robert Cialdini, Author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, explains that even in circumstances where we are not obligated to give back, we still feel a need to do so, because of the power of reciprocation. This natural tendency that all humans possess can be effectively used to strengthen your internal and external brand.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 2:53pm
brand loyalty, Branding, company culture, company values, Customer loyalty, employee engagement, employee incentives, Internal Branding, Office Ideas, organizational management, strategy
Employee Engagement: Increasing Organizational Success One Company at a Time
February 6, 2014
According to a recent extensive study conducted by Harvard Business Review (HBR), employee engagement is becoming a top priority for senior executives making 2014 the year for employees. Gathering data from companies all over the world, HBR has discovered that around 71% of people believe that employee engagement is a critical component to having a successful organization. As a result, top executives across the globe are pumping the breaks to reevaluate the way they do business. Rather than focusing all of their attention on incremental revenue, smart companies are turning to their employees for innovative growth.
Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 4:53am
brand loyalty, Branding, company culture, company values, Customer loyalty, employee engagement, employee incentives, Internal Branding, Office Ideas, organizational management, strategy