Download - SCPMA-HR Annual Conference April 2010
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Engaging Employees when there are No Easy Answers
April 22, 2010
Management Education Group, Inc.
www.ManagementEducationGroup.com
© Management Education Group, Inc.
Session Objectives
At the end of this session you will be able to:
• Anticipate the questions you are likely to face
• Link the questions to the needs employees have in the new work environment
• Consider six tips for maintaining engagement levels even when you don’t have the answers
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Job Losses – February 2007 to October 2009
When Did Your Region's Jobs Disappear?
California12.6%(p) in March 2010
Unemployment Rates
6,162,836 jobs lost nationwide since October 2009
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Slate.com
http://www.slate.com/id/2216238
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Public Sector Realities
Layoffs
Redeployments
Bumping
Recalls
Furloughs
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What are the Tough Questions You Can’t Answer?
• We’ve already cut 20% of the workforce. Are we done?
• I heard the city was considering a furlough. Will we all be required to participate?
• I know we are in a hiring freeze. How is the department going to get all this work done? How will my job be impacted?
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Facing the Emotions
• What are the typical reactions you are seeing from employees?
• What are the typical reactions you are seeing from organizational leaders?
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Reactions will Vary – Even in France
• 3M factory holds plant manager hostage
• Sony plant manager locked in his office
• Angry tire factory employees threw eggs
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Deems Job Loss Reaction Cycle™
Source: Make Job Loss Work for You by Richard S. Deems, 2010
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Three Kind of Employees
Source: “Building Options or Bummed Out,” Beverly Kaye, T+D, November 2009
POBBOs SOBBOs HOBBOs
Pushed Out,but Better Off
Staying On,but Building
Options
Hanging On,but Bummed
Out
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Characteristics of SOBBOs
• Action-oriented, future-focused
• Politically savvy, proactive, self-managing
• Development-minded, networked
• Investment-oriented
• Committed to growth and learning
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Characteristics of HOBBOs
• Reactive and victimized
• In denial
• Waiting to see what happens next
• Passive and disconnected
• Committed only to employment and a paycheck
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SOBBOs = Coping HOBBOs = Moping
How is your organization working
to retain and engage
the SOBBOs?
How is your organization
addressing the performance of the
HOBBOs?
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• Your agency’s policies and process• How workload will be redistributed• Timelines for change • Options for recall• Resources to be offered to employees
(EAP, benefits, outplacement, etc.)
Keys for Engaging without Answers
Key #1: Be Candid about Reality
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Keys for Engaging without Answers
Key #2: Communicate Early and Often
• Respond to community and industry impacts as they happen
• Tell employees about change before the outside world knows
• Deliver news face to face when at all possible
• Weekly CAO webcasts
• Daily or weekly intranet updates under a heading designated for the change
• CAO town halls
• Training for supervisors on how to deliver tough messages
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Keys for Engagingwithout Answers
Key #3: Create the Future with Employees
• Help them consider their skills, reputation, and the changing nature of work
• Engage them in goal-setting, focusing on transferable skills
• Encourage them to seek development opportunities, inside and outside of your organization
• Use development plans to structure their future
• Engage employees in your response to customers
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Keys for Engaging without Answers
Key #4: Never stop investing
• Training managers to coach and facilitate retained employees (SOBBOs and HOBBOs)
• Training for employees related to career development and relevant new skills
• Hold a “stay” interview with survivors to determine their individual needs
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Keys for Engaging without Answers
Key #5: Keep Your Face Up Front• Watch and listen for rumors• Anticipate rumors before they spread• Address rumors promptly via established communication tools
- Webcasts - Newsletters - Twitter - Town Halls
• Initiate two-way, face to face conversations
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Keys for Engaging without Answers
Key #6: Get Back to Work•Refocus the conversation on things employees can do something about
•Maintaining customer relations•Improving morale•Maintaining or increasing productivity
•Restate the organization’s mission over and over
•Refocus your expectations for performance
•Ask employees for input before making decisions that impact their roles
•Respond to employee questions or requests promptly•Recognize employees who go the extra mile
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Self Check
What can you do to ease the fears and address the uncertainty in
your organization?
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Thank you for your time!
Marnie E. GreenManagement Education Group, Inc.
www.ManagementEducationGroup.com
480-705-9394