Take PRIDE In Your Job, Part 2

A 2010 survey conducted by the Conference Board showed only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their work. This is the lowest level ever recorded by the Conference Board in more than 22 years of research. Those companies that fail to improve job satisfaction are at risk of losing their top talented people to the competition.

Yesterday Promotional Consultant Today shared the PRIDE system as a way of engaging employees and providing a good place to work, and we covered “P” and “R.” Today we continue with “I,” “D” and “E.” What is PRIDE?

P-Provide a positive working environment
R-Reward and recognition
I-Involve and increase employee engagement
D-Develop the skills and potential of your workforce
E-Evaluate and make continuous improvements

Step 3: Involve And Increase Employee Engagement
People may show up for work, but are they engaged and productive? Job satisfaction increases when there is a process to contribute their ideas and employee suggestions. This gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their work.

In order to stimulate innovation, Sony Corporation fosters the exchange of ideas within departments by sponsoring an annual Idea Exposition where scientists and engineers display projects and ideas on which they are working. This process creates a healthy climate of innovation and drives employee engagement for all those who participate.

Step 4: Develop The Skills And Potential Of Your Workforce
Ongoing training and development is a critical element of a successful organization. It helps people become more productive and effective at what they do. At Federal Express, all customer contact people receive six weeks of training before they ever answer the first phone call. Every six months, customer service people are tested using an online computer system. They receive a personalized “prescription” on areas that need reviewing with a list of resources and lessons that will help. This intensive training and development program have resulted in higher productivity and lower turnover.

Step 5: Evaluate And Make Continuous Improvements
Organizations should never be content with status quo and must be alert to anything that causes job dissatisfaction and lowers productivity. In the past, many executives have focused on tangibles such as profit and loss while relegating matters of hiring, development and talent management to human resources. This can no longer be the case. The goal is to ensure progress and determine what needs improving. Continuous evaluation includes, but is not limited to, the measurement of attitudes, morale and motivation of the workforce. It includes the identification of problem areas needing improvement, and the design and implementation of an improvement plan.

Take PRIDE in your business. The results will be more motivated employees, higher job satisfaction and even higher productivity.

Source: Greg Smith’s cutting-edge keynotes, consulting and training programs have helped businesses accelerate organizational performance, reduce turnover, increase sales, hire better people and deliver better customer service. As president and founder of Chart Your Course International, he has implemented professional development programs for thousands of organizations globally.