Communication – the first essential in change management

September 3 2024

There are several key elements that leaders implementing change programs should use to support a successful change, and to support their people through the process. Changefirst’s Audra Proctor says that the four elements are Communication, Involvement, Learning, and Recognition, and in this brief article we pick up on what she says about the first – Communication. It’s essential that leaders prioritise and use frequent communication right throughout a change program. This communication should be performance-focused (eg. “how is this going… Read more »

Quiet quitting’s changed, unhappy staff now just hanging on

August 23 2024

Intro: Staff are bunkering down, managers are overwhelmed Remember the quiet quitting era? It’s recent, and brief, and it’s all over! With the tailend of ’24 coming up, Australian organisations now face a more complex staffing issue: employee retention is up while employee happiness and engagement are falling. The pain is being felt keenly by middle managers (particularly female and regional managers), who are burnt out, stressed and overwhelmed. And nearly half are angry! These trends, uncovered in the recent… Read more »

Perks great, but a thriving culture takes much more

August 5 2024

Creating a thriving workplace culture goes far beyond offering flashy perks like free lunches, yoga classes and dog-friendly offices, as appealing as these may be. And if we think it’s all about pay and benefits, think again. Whereas employees say that being paid fairly makes them twice as likely to think their workplace is great, when employees are proud of their work, they are 20 times more likely to say it’s a great workplace! At its core, a great company… Read more »

Are your managers destroying staff engagement?

July 24 2024

Many leaders would love to know the key to staff engagement in their workplace. Well, let’s start with manager engagement. Managers not engaged globally Only 3 in 10 managers globally are engaged in their jobs, according to Gallup’s most recent global survey of workplaces (engagement meaning feeling involved and enthusiastic about the workplace and one’s role). The obvious question is: how can managers who aren’t highly engaged in their jobs engage and improve the wellbeing of those they lead? Clearly,… Read more »

What perks do Australian staff value most in 2024?

July 18 2024

What are perks? Do you offer a range of perks at your workplace? Employee perks are non-wage offerings given to employees that extend the total offer beyond base salary and benefits.  Some are directly financial (and either included in total salary or provided as discounted services), while others are non-financial benefits*. The US-based xoxoday says that examples of ‘perks at work’ can include health insurance, flexible work hours, gym memberships, childcare services, company-sponsored events, retirement plans, or discounts on products… Read more »

Time to address the Great Stagnation

July 17 2024

As a team member in mid 2024, you might be feeling depleted, but stuck! If you’re an employer, you might be noticing some disturbing signs of burnout in your teams, and feeling an urge to reassess how you support your staff. Or perhaps you’re feeling a need to help individuals connect their work to a broader purpose? It’s not just you. It’s consistent with a growing attempt to re-energise rising numbers of employees who either feel stuck in their jobs,… Read more »

Doing hybrid better with enhanced workspaces and creative leadership

July 15 2024

The Hybrid Work workspace The office isn’t dead, but it’s getting a makeover. The pandemic forced a shift to remote work, and for many (particularly knowledge workers), that flexibility is here to stay. Office spaces are seeing a comeback, but at much lower occupancy rates than pre-pandemic times. This reflects the rise of hybrid work models, where employees split their time between home and the office. This change in work style brings both challenges and opportunities. Some studies show a… Read more »