Bob Field: Engagement- every business is a people business.

Bob Field spoke at Challenges '08 on "Engagement- every business is a people business."

The private sector said:
The best form of communication in engaged companies is face-to-face, in regular meetings, and modelling the way by always telling the truth. There needs to be collaboration, consensus decision-making that involves staff and plenty of active listening. Create a sense of belonging by communicating the big picture and how each individual contributes.

The local government sector said:
Giving people endless more information doesn’t work in improving engagement. People need good contact with their own manager in order to translate the senior level information. Such one-on-one contact provides the manager with the opportunity to talk to staff about their fit and contribution

The not-for-profit sector said:
By creating a culture of affirmation we can retain experienced staff. Initiatives could include flexible working hours, recognising extraordinary contribution outside the job, bring children into work during the school holidays, grant a day off on staff member’s birthday, demonstrate a sense of caring

The central government sector said:
If we want to retain staff when competition is increasing, we need to focus on the individual. We need to understand their intrinsic and extrinsic motivational needs and demonstrate we are committed to their success. It boils down to the basics of everyone understanding the big picture, fostering collaboration and recognising individual contribution