There has been an ongoing debate around open versus closed office spaces and which one is better. Open offices tend to enable collaboration, yet they are also prone to cause distractions and noise. Closed offices and cubicles tend to allow for more focused work, but they can also be a bit depressing and not encourage collaboration and communication. So which one do you go with? […]
Every organization has its own set of values, which are typically words or phrases the organization believes in or wants to represent. Values help guide the organization’s culture and actions. Oftentimes these values include words or phrases such as trust, transparency, fun, innovation, collaboration, and honesty. But for many organizations, these things are nothing more than lip service and useless platitudes. […]
What do you think of when you hear the word “manager”? If you’re like many employees, the words that pop into your head could include zookeeper, cog-driver, or dictator or characteristics like outdated or out of touch. The typical definition of the word “manager” is simply a person who manages others. In many cases in the media and in real life, managers are portrayed as being aloof, arrogant, or simply incompetent and just there to do less work than their employees but make more money. It’s no surprise that many companies are turning away from the term mana […]ger because it can be viewed so negatively and seen as old fashioned.
Organizations seeking to create amazing employee experiences need to start with a Reason for Being, which acts as the foundation for the three employee experience environments–technology, physical space, and culture. […]
Many things in today’s world are growing exponentially, but perhaps nothing faster than technology. As these exponential technologies continue to grow, they will no doubt play a huge role in shaping the future of work. […]
There are three key environments that make up the employee experience: technology, culture, and the physical space. I explore all three in my latest book, but let’s talk about the physical space, or the place where employees actually work. This is our surroundings and includes everything from the art that hangs on the wall to the catered meals the organization may offer to the cubicles or open floor plan employees may sit in. It comprises 30% of the employee experience. […]
When we hear the word well-being, we likely think of health and wellness. And although that is an important part, well-being encompasses so much more. Marriott International, the largest hotel chain in the world, is also consistently named as one of the best places to work and an organization with the happiest employees. There are a number of factors that contribute to Marriott’s success, but a large part can be placed on the company’s emphasis on well-being. […]
Do you or your employees show up at work expecting an experience or a transaction? You probably don’t think about it that way, but subconsciously it can have a big effect on your overall job satisfaction and performance. […]
I give around 50 keynotes a year around the world to various organizations and conferences in all sorts of industries. One of the things that people always tell me after my talks is that they want more. How can they go beyond a 45-60 minute keynote to really grasp the concepts of employee experience? […]
Does focusing on employee experience even make sense in a world that is supposedly going to be dominated by freelancers and short-term employees? There’s been a lot of debate and confusion around this space, so it only makes sense to explore what’s going on here. Alternative work arrangements include everyone from Uber drivers to construction workers who work on independent contracts to those of us who work with staffing agencies for temporary employment. […]