Return On Performance

My Work, My Way (Part 2 of 4)

Find your unique culture To be effective, programs that address employee engagement must reflect the culture of the organization, says Flanagan. “What works for one company won’t work for another.” For example, Flanagan does not sit in an office. Acquirent is located on one floor with a very open environment. “My space is in the [...]

My Work, My Way (Part 1 of 4)

Different employees thrive in different work environments. Employee engagement starts with hiring the right people and creating an environment that fits the corporate culture and goals. What do high-performing companies have in common? A study by human resource strategy firm Kenexa reports that organizations with highly engaged employees netted twice the annual income of organizations [...]

Building a Dream Team (Part 5 of 5)

Respect the individual Although team building is primarily about getting employees to work together, the individual members of those teams want their personal skills and needs acknowledged and appreciated. Honest Tea accommodates employees’ requests to move to new positions whenever possible. In addition, its HR managers conduct “check-ins” with employees several times a year to [...]

Building a Dream Team (Part 4 of 5)

Create space for interactions Many companies are recognizing the role that the office itself can play in making teams more effective. Employees at Novartis Oncology’s new state-of-the-art headquarters building in New Jersey work in multi-level pods that encompass cross-functional teams. In addition to the innovative work space, the Novartis campus offerings include gyms and sports [...]

Building a Dream Team (Part 3 of 5)

Build connections in multiple ways Employees located in remote locations sometimes feel excluded from the perks and activities in a company’s main office, but there are ways to make them feel like valued team members. Honest Tea, for example, not only provides its main office employees with healthy, organic snacks, but also sends out snack [...]

Building a Dream Team (Part 2 of 5)

Unite a diverse workforce round common goals A team that crosses cultural, generational and skill boundaries will benefit a company if members’ energies are channeled effectively. When selecting team members, Novartis Oncology looks at both an individual’s skill sets and how that individual will function as part of a specific team. “How many creative people [...]