Google uses a unique goal-setting mechanism titled Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). This allows lofty goal-setting but also, step-by-step tracking of progress. It ensures a system where employees stretch themselves, but also allows free-flow of communication across the firm. There are several advantages of this system, starting with the setting of stretch goals. It also promotes accountability. It aligns the entire organization to the corporate strategy drafted. To start off, one must set some quantifiable objective with desired results attached for each stage. Regular meetings need to be held to review the OKRs set. Such positive results mean that the founder of Lucid took this concept with him from Google where he had worked earlier.

Source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlsun/2017/05/16/the-idea-i-stole-from-google-or-how-i-learned-to-love-okrs/#359860be6a2f

Uploaded Date:05 November 2018

Some companies especially retailers as a tactic often raise the wages of their employees. The idea is of course to be better employers, improve employees’ motivation levels and curate a more positive image conducive for future talent recruitment. While in some particularly mundane jobs, this may have a short-term positive spill-over, in the long run, higher wages alone cannot change employees’ views on mediocre jobs. This is because of the prevalent obstacles which do not dissipate thanks merely to higher wages. For better talent management, companies must instead ensure more predictable schedules. They must also seek to provide the minimum take-home pay. In spite of higher wages, employees often fall below the minimum bracket as they are not allotted the due 40-hour work weeks. This is especially true for the contractual workers. Another thing companies must proactively look at is to draw up the career paths of the employees. Good employers such as Quick Trip and Costco have been rewarded with higher employee retention rates due to these practices of theirs.

Source:https://hbr.org/2018/10/higher-wages-arent-enough-to-turn-mediocre-jobs-into-good-ones

Uploaded Date:05 November 2018

People often get into this habit of complaining. It is at such times, that one may take perspective form others far less fortunate anyway. Some life-lessons can also be picked up by them, as identified by Tom Koulopoulos, who is the founder of Boston-based Delphi Group. The first such lesson is to own the feelings, or else they will overpower the person. Others will also see the person as one sees oneself. Complaining doesn’t help anyone. Life isn’t always fair, but then that is the case with everyone. One needs to make the best out of the situation. One can always give up. But the one who gives up, usually ends up losing the most. One can’t really control happenings in life. Only thing that can be controlled is one’s ability to respond to a situation. Not for nothing do we consider necessity the mother of invention. Business innovations arise most often at the height of one’s discomfort, so one discovers the best opportunities to grow.

Source:https://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2018/10/21/seven-life-changing-lessons-from-someone-who-lost-everything/

Uploaded Date:31st October 2018

There are people who play the victim card. They can never do any wrong, but keep blaming others for any misfortunes. Motivation levels also come down for those working with these types of people. Amy Jen Su who has written the book Own the Room and is the managing partner at Parvis Partners, has provided some tips on how to handle such people. First of all, one needs to show some empathy towards them. One must maintain a sense of positivity to counter them. A counter-narrative needs to be provided to these people so they may also get a chance to understand the other side. Such alternate approaches need to validified with proper examples. Solutions need to be provided when they come up with their usual grievances. Solutions could include enlisting the services of professional coaches through management training programmes. Whatever be the case, one needs to be direct when addressing such colleagues. If one cannot handle, such cases may also be referred up to the immediate superior. For all the help one is offering, limits must be set beforehand.

Source:https://hbr.org/2018/10/working-with-a-colleague-who-feels-that-the-world-is-against-them

Uploaded Date:31st October 2018

Research has proven that storytelling is one of the best ways to heal people working in intensive jobs. This is particularly true for young medical practitioners, especially doctors. Early failures in trying to save others’ lives often lead to post-operation trauma for many young doctors. There are steep psychological challenges and emotional pitfalls to this. That is the reason storytelling has been woven into several corporate training programmes. The Narrative Medicine movement for example which was flagged off from the Columbia Medical school nearly three decades back has conducted several such sessions with young doctors. This has helped them become more resilient. After a lot of these sessions, the participants appear genuinely relieved to share their traumatic stories.

Source:https://hbr.org/2018/10/how-storytelling-can-help-young-doctors-become-more-resilient?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=dailyalert_activesubs&utm_content=signinnudge&referral=00563&deliveryName=DM16558

Uploaded Date:31st October 2018

Self-awareness is a key trait one must possess for both professional success as well as personal gain. However, most people are in short supply as a five-year study proved only between 10 and 15 percent of people tend to possess this trait. In workplaces, it is common to notice such people. Team leader must try to help such people, starting with trying to understand the problem. One must try to understand the reason behind this mismatch or tension. To make a real difference, leaders must grasp the background of the person to be treated. As per the study done, only about a third of attempts to change the habits of unaware people succeeded to any extent. They often fail because leaders are not sure whether they must take matters into their own hands, or merely act as messengers. The best of leaders, would even be prepared to accept the worst possible result, as long as they feel good about giving their best towards the cause. If nothing works, one can always seek the help of professionals. There are corporate training modules available to coach on mindfulness and self-awareness. At some point, one needs to connect with the subjects to find their humanity. Ultimately, one has to be prepared to play the long, waiting game.

Source:https://hbr.org/2018/10/working-with-people-who-arent-self-aware

Uploaded Date:31st October 2018

The official publication of CMI, titled Professional Manager has come up with a lots of twenty companies that are rated as the most inspirational places to work in 2018. This data has been compiled from talent recruitment cum review website Glassdoor. These companies possess the culture and leadership style that attracts ad manages to retain the very best of talent. Bain & Company finds itself right on top. Investigo, Northern Gas & Power, The Good Care Group, Chess, Goodman Masson, XPO Logistics, Autotrader, Facebook and PHMG complete the top ten. The second half of the list starts off with Bromford. To complete the list are- Rentokil Initial, Anglian Water, Peninsula Group, Home Serve, Lead Forensics, Hiscox, Lookers, Salesforce and Helping Hands.

Source:https://www.managers.org.uk/campaigns/glassdoor-index

Uploaded Date:27 October 2018