As you read this today, JKL Associates is investing in expanding our knowledge and understanding of various topics that can benefit our clients. We are attending a knowledge conference to gather insights and build relationships with other colleagues and experts in the industries and client profiles we serve. We take this time investment very seriously, as it is part of the value we bring into the marketplace. The business world and life in general is not stagnant. Therefore, we as business leaders must not stagnate. Constantly exposing our minds to what is taking place around our world allows us to not only be aware but to assess the level of participation we should or should not have in these facets of business.
One such area of exploration is the dynamics influencing the recruiting and intake of top talent in the marketplace. If you ask any leader, there is likely an opinion as to the nature of the people seeking work and those who already are in the workplace. Some of the feedback might surprise you.
In a recent conversation, a business leader shared a surprising experience of a new hire in their organization. They had conducted their typical due diligence on the candidate and were highly confident the person would be a good fit. However, what truly surprised them was not only was the person a solid fit, but even more importantly, they were a solid contributor, engager, and developer. These traits, which were hopeful for the person’s future, were evident very early on in the employment engagement. This unexpected discovery caught the leader a little off guard. Some past hires were a good fit for the role but did not bring with them the same level of self-engagement.
As JKL Associates works with our clients to raise the quality and intentionality of their culture, it is more and more critical that the engagement of staff in the organization’s culture is a real difference in gluing the team together. Leaders cannot just hire to perform roles, tasks, or duties. They need to look into how their culture can provide an environment in which talent can grow and develop. Think of your company’s culture as a garden. In order for your plants to realize their full potential and produce an abundance of fruit, the environment must be nurtured and improved.
For too long, businesses have focused on processes, procedures, and every other kind of mechanical method to squeeze improvement out of the organization. This is not dissimilar from how corporate farming has used any number of artificial ingredients to push produce production to a higher level. This was done at the expense of the quality of end product nutrient value and, in fact, has contributed to many health disorders. This has happened in the business world, pushing technology and methodologies to such an extent that the people in the business have been regarded as secondary.
This is not to say that the use of good business systems, processes, and procedures are not important. They are very important but must be institutionalized in concert with the human elements that make a business thrive. Having great systems actually allows people to accomplish many things more effectively and efficiently, allowing them to be available to learn and apply knowledge to improve the very systems that help them be successful.
This week, consider what your organization is doing to invest not just in the systems to improve your business but also in the culture and people that enable your business to excel. At JKL Associates, we are fully committed to building trusted relationships rooted in purpose to contribute and deliver promises authentically. This is accomplished by assisting leaders in cultivating their culture so they can produce the best outcomes. Interested in having a conversation about how your organization can embrace the best cultural environment? Give us a call at MI (313) 527-7945 or FL (407) 984-7246
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QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS – EMAIL US AT PARTNERS@JKLASSOCIATES.COM OR CALL OUR OFFICES – MI AT (313) 527-7945 FL AT (407) 984-7246
Celebrating 30 years of Delivering on “Promises”
