An organization’s success strongly correlates with the extent to which its people feel engaged and motivated. Engagement is influenced not only by doing meaningful work, but also by the organization’s recognition of its people’s worth and commitment to enabling their desire to progress in their career and lives.
Scott Pulsipher, president, Western Governors University
Takeaways of Note:
To drive better outcomes for our people & our organizations:
- Start with outcomes, then work backwards… identify areas of improvement, define how to measure success, and develop practices that will enable that progress (i.e. for organizational culture… lower rates of attrition, increased employee engagement, higher rates of mobility, greater inclusion, etc.)
- Design for universal access & one-by-one progress… expanding access (to a benefit, a program, etc.) is in the best interest of everyone involved; accept that everyone is top talent and capable of contributing something big… limiting access serves no one
- Be careful of “fit tests,” and encourage diverse perspectives… in lieu of promoting “culture fit,” leaders should develop an organizational disposition and practices that increase inclusion, promote diversity of thought, spur collaborative reasoning, and reward trust & focused execution
- Respect & promote individual accountability… create opportunities for individuals to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities to take on an ever-expanding scope of responsibility, and be transparent about available pathways between roles
- Prioritize the success of others, creating a virtuous cycle of progress… when individuals at all levels of an organization focus their attention on helping others advance, it sets off a positive chain reaction that benefits all—including the organization.
Bonus nugget:
While every organizational culture is unique, building one that makes the advancement of its people paramount requires people who believe what I and others do:
- That every individual is inherently worthy, with something big to contribute;
- That opportunity actually expands as more contribute to it, while excluding some serves no one;
- That every individual has an innate capacity for learning and growth, and an aspiration to progress on their own terms;
- That every individual is gifted, and talented—even if not all in the same thing; and
- That individuals have agency and are stewards over their careers and how they contribute to the world.