).30)2% s #,!2)&9 s 3)-0,)&9 story by PAM McGEE | illustration by DAVE SWANG
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ecent Gallup Poll results indicate that an estimated 70 percent or more of the professional workforce is unengaged or actively disengaged (meaning they would take another job as soon as they could). Global research by Towers Watson (2013) found that the single highest driver of employee engagement is whether the manager is genuinely interested in his/her employees’ well-being. The research also found that less than 40 percent of employees felt that support. The Magnetic Company Way (MCW) is a philosophy and a methodology that results in a positive revolution that provides inspiration, clarity, and simplicity. The result is a purposeful company with the h right i h people l (clients ( li and d employees), l ) processes, and d profit! fi ! #E #Engagement says it i all! ll! Through the simple process of learning to apply the MCW, employees become more loyal, productive, engaged, and intrinsically motivated to reach their potential; the company reaches its goals; AND customers can’t wait to do business with said company again and again.
BUT WHY THE MAGNETIC WAY? Research indicates that businesses with greater employee satisfaction also have: 86 percent higher customer ratings, 78 percent better safety records, 76 percent more success in lowering turnover, and 44 percent higher profitability (7Mindsets.com). The Magnetic Company Way was developed as a result of research by Robertson and Company in more than 100 companies in 10 different countries. The research found that engaged employees and profitable companies all share four things, also known as the Four Ps: » Purposeful work » People who care about the customer » Efficient processes » Profitability Purposeful work is about working in a company where the leadership team answers “Why do we exist?” Patrick Lencioni, author of “The Advantage” (learn more at www.tablegroup.com/blog), states that most companies define why they exist by creating a mission statement. Mission statements, although important, work to clarify the strategic direction of the company. The “Why do we exist?” question inspires people to want to execute on the mission. To create purposeful work, answer the following questions: What does your business do? Why does it matter? What is YOUR purpose within your company? The most important tools in defining purposeful work are communication and involvement. Talk again and again about the purposeful work and engage everyone (even customers) to participate in the dialogue. The second part of a magnetic company is the people. How are the best people to serve the customers and each other in your company? Who are the best customers, and how do you get more and keep them? If you are the company owner, ask yourself what you are doing to provide a healthy company culture that inspires people to work for you and customers to buy from you. The fundamental cornerstone of the people part of your business is having good leadership and management. We have all heard that the number one reason someone leaves a company is because of his/her direct supervisor. Do your leaders know how to coach others, unite teams, clarify strategy, and execute? If you are a team leader or an individual contributor, you can clarify your purpose by focusing on the customer. One of my previous bosses would say to me when I wanted role clarity (yes, I asked daily for job direction), “Your role clarity is to serve a customer!”. If you don’t know what to do, go ask a customer and figure it out!” She said it a little nicer than that, but I think you get the point. Maybe you want to create a #WhatIDidfortheCustomer hashtag for all employees to tweet! THEPARTNERCHANNEL.COM | FALL 2014
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