What/Who is the most valuable asset of an organisation – Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud projects, Shareholders, Customers, Managers, Top Leaders or Employees? Are employees just commodities that can be bought and replaced, or do they bring personalities along with labour? What values do employees bring to an organisation, and why it’s essential to keep employees happy?
“Businesses must recognize that an organization’s vitality and capacity for organic growth is inextricably tied to the everyday experiences of its employees”
Gallup – State of the Global Workplace Report
Employees – Valuable Commodities or Valuable Assets?
Many organisations have ignored their employees and fallen into the trap of iterative programming construct of command & execute. Focus remains on increasing value for shareholders and customers rather than regard for employees, which in turn creates unhappy employees.
These unhappy, unsatisfied, disengaged, and discontented workers are far less productive, far less creative and much more likely to leave. According to Gallup Research (State of Global Workplace) – Revenues loss in the USA alone due to unhappy & less productive employees were estimated at around USD 550 billion per year.
“71% of employees in Australia/New Zealand are not engaged compared to 67% globally”
Gallup Research: State of the Global Workplace Report
The same research also revealed workplaces are plagued with disengagement, and 7 out of 10 workers in the USA are not working to their full potential. Affecting business more than they realise.
“Australia/New Zealand is one of two regions with relatively high employee life evaluations but relatively low workplace engagement scores.”
Gallup Research: State of the Global Workplace Report
Take good care of the “Most valuable assets.”
“Employees need to be equipped to perform and then positioned for individual and team success.” – Gallup Research
Disengaged & disconnected employees are left without motivation or encouragement and will eventually shift from being an asset to being a liability to the organisation. Managers have a direct impact on direct reports, which in turn have a profound immediate impact on an organisation. Therefore, the leaders & managers are the critical parts of this interesting algebraic equation.
This insightful infographic stresses why it is so critical that both business owners and managers realise & take care of the emotional well-being of their employees.
References:
Gallup Consulting. (2013). State of the Global Workplace. Employee Engagement Insights for Business Leaders Worldwide, 1–122. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/file/services/176735/State of the Global Workplace Report 2013.pdf%5Cnpapers2://publication/uuid/4F576D34-017E-4BC6-8B6E-E3760C5FCD5E
Gallup Consulting. (2017). State of the Global Workplace. Employee Engagement Insights for Business Leaders Worldwide. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/file/services/176735/State of the Global Workplace Report 2013.pdf%5Cnpapers2://publication/uuid/4F576D34-017E-4BC6-8B6E-E3760C5FCD5E
The Real Cost of Unhappy Employees. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228039
Almalki, D. S. (n.d.). “You are the Most Valuable Asset” – Is it true? Retrieved October 31, 2016, from https://www.thehrobserver.com/you-are-the-most-valuable-asset-is-it-true/
Clifford, C. (2015). Unhappy Workers Cost the U.S. Up to $550 Billion a Year (Infographic). Cnbc. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246036
Infographic below by Good.co, a San-Francisco-based workplace personality assessment company.
https://good.co/