Scary Times II
In October 2011 I posted a Blog titled Scary Times. It was a play on Halloween and the issues facing seniors in high school as they navigated the world of changes ahead…college, work, sports. Issues that were relevant. Perhaps scary, but also exciting. Fast forward to today, Scary Times II.
Scary Times II is certainly not aligned with Halloween this time, and it is not targeting seniors in high school. It targets everyone. Those in high school as a sophomore or older, college students, and those in the work world already. COVID-19 has made our world a very different place. As a result, it has caused all of us to rethink how we interact with each other, how we address learning, and how we continue in the world of work. Yes, it is scary.
But, Scary Times can encourage us to spend time reflecting, to engage, educate and empower ourselves to move beyond where we were and into something more. Who are YOU? Are you an Extrovert? Do you need diversity in your work, interactions with others, and a common goal? Are you an Introvert? Need more time to yourself for reflection and recharging? Are you diagnostic, analytic, experiential or consultative in your Problem Solving style? How does that fit in your world of work? If you are not sure, maybe it’s time to find out the answers to these and lots more questions that can guide you in your next steps.
The world of work is changing more rapidly that anyone expected. Will you be ready? Now is the time to take a Highlands Ability Battery and find out your Best Fit opportunities.
Scary Numbers
The Internet is full of those fun “list type” stories, “10 Tips for Workplace Success” or “5 Points to Nail an Interview.” I have written several over the years as blog postings. They help define concepts and frame information so that it is easier to remember. Look through my archives and I bet you can spot them in 30 seconds or less. That’s the point.
But in a recent article by a leading World information powerhouse, GALLUP, the numbers are bigger and with huge ramifications. The May 2015 number for Employee Engagement was flat and low at 31.5%. That means only 31.5% of employees were engaged in their work. Engagement for the purpose of GALLUP’s poll is to define employees who are involved in, enthusiastic and committed to their work.
The importance of this measure is the correlation to a company’s productivity, profitability and customer engagement.
Life is way too short to not enjoy and be engaged in your work. Likewise, the livelihood of a company is way too vulnerable to not have engaged employees. Want to read the brief but full article? Click here.
Understanding yourself and your employees can help close the “Scary Gap” of unengaged, underproductive workers. Want to learn how?
Click here for a video clip.
Part of the engagement issue rests in the hands of management, but a large and undefined portion rests in the hands of our own personal efforts to identify the work we would most enjoy and be good at in an on-going basis. Like I said, life is just too short.