The Leading Edge Newsletter

The Importance of Perspective

The latest L.E.A.D. Survey results show the importance of developing a wider perspective – a perspective that embraces both organisational needs and individual needs.

Consider for a moment the chart below showing the percentage of organisations reviewing budgets, staff levels, costs, and replacement policies as revealed in the L.E.A.D. survey…

Clearly many organisations have HAD to respond to the new economic climate they face. They’ve needed to take a very organisation-focused perspective to ensure their future.

But have they missed something important? Have they overlooked the perspective of employees towards the organisation and its future?

Some organisations, in battening down the hatches, have perhaps lost perspective in the process. Yet all organisations have the potential adjust, modify their strategies and prepare for a brighter future. It’s all about developing a wider perspective – one that includes the views of employees and those further down the organisation.

Perspective is the key ingredient when considering how to respond to the current economic challenge and indeed other challenges.

L.E.A.D. tells us that employees are highly resilient – even in the current climate, 94% believe they cope well with change (Very well 28%, Quite well 66%). However, managers seem to be less aware of this fact than they should be. Employees feel they themselves are coping with change more effectively than their managers and business leaders feel is the case.

Further many employees are already on-board and ready to work for their future whilst working for the organisation’s future. Consider that 87% of employees want to continue to develop their careers with their current employer, although only 64% still believe this is possible. And over 30% don’t know what the future holds for them!

This situation can create an environment where employees may not feel they are involved in the future of the organisation or trusted to be a part of changes and new strategies going forward. This could mean they fail to connect and engage. The reality is they seem resilient and ready to take on the challenges faced by all. They simply need to be asked and they need to be reassured about their own future (especially given the prominence of job security as an influencer of workplace performance).

Whilst there has been a great deal of organisation focus it would seem leaders need to be observing the individuals in their teams more closely and listening to what they have to say about the future. A closer look at how employees are feeling and reacting, as shown in L.E.A.D. suggests enormous opportunities are waiting in the wings. Leaders just need to gain perspective – at both an organisational and an individual level.

Maybe it’s time you gained a wider perspective?

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