Work/Life Leadership Expert Expresses Caution with the Data
Towers Perrin's recently released 2007 Global Workforce Study shows fascinating shifts in commonly-held beliefs. However, I must express a level of caution in reading the results.
1. Towers Perrin stated that a "stressed out" workforce appears to be over-stated. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of those surveyed report reported being neutral to energized by on-the-job stress.
My caution: Neutral is not a positive word in my book. What percentage are "neutral"? A car does not move forward in neutral. It only stays put or rolls back. Same thing is true of people.
2. Technology is not the enemy. The vast majority (86%) felt it actually help them achieve some level of balance between their personal and professional lives and that it signal an awareness that the world operates on a 24/7 basis.
My caution: It comes from the word "some". Technology is a great tool as long as we control it rather than the other way around. It also requires that management is very clear about what really matters so that "connected time" is not wasted time. If everything is important, nothing is important.
3. Work is not the center of our lives. More than half of the respondents (59%) reported that they work to support their lives and family needs versus 18% who agreed that work was the most important aspect of their lives. Among U.S. respondents, 72% agreed that they essentially work to live.
My caution: If one only works to live, a company better pay close attention to programs and trainings that help workers balance personal and life responsibilities. If not, a worker is off to the next organization that enables work/life flexibility.
4. Senior leadership actions have greater influence than first-line managers on engagement and retention. Although a good relationship with direct reports is critical, senior leaders are scrutinized carefully for their decisions and visibility, along with learning and opportunities for advancement.
My caution: I am concerned that senior leaders will not heed this very important finding. An Opinion Research (Feb 2007) study corroborates that the top workplace frustration is poor communication by senior management about the business. So on both counts, senior leaders best heed the cry of the workplace. The workers seek ethical decisions, transparency, clarity and visibility.
Bottom line: Data is always worthy of study AND of more in-depth analysis. At the end of the day, we want numbers as well as plain talk about what matters. For more insights into work and life leadership, visit my blog: Plain Talk - Straight-up insights on work and life leadership.
(c) 2008, McDargh Communications. All rights reserved. You may reprint this article so long as it remains intact with the byline and if all links are made live.
Towers Perrin Study Discounts Workplace Myths; - To learn more about this author, visit Eileen McDargh's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 Imagine All the People
|
| |
“Imagine all the people living life in peace” sang John Lennon in the 70’s and it’s still being played today. Well, imagine employees working everyday in harmony and peace and happily contributing to a healthy and h...
|
|
Towers Perrin Study Discounts Workplace Myths;
|
| |
Work/life leadership expert, author and speaker, Eileen McDargh, analyzes the data and expresses caution when reading the recently released 2007 Global Workforce Study by Towers Perrin.
|
|
Clearing Up The Myths About Strategic Thinking and Planning
|
| |
I continue to be amazed at the amount of misinformation and the number of myths that exist about strategic thinking and planning. During my entire career, I have heard business owners, senior executives and not-for-...
|
|
Is having a website a requirement in the RFQ RFP process today
|
| |
Member Question:
I have a question, for those actively participating in the RFQ & RFP process today.
We had a client request we put up one page of his newly developed site, even though it was in the production...
|
|
Clearing Up The Myths About Seeking Advice and Help, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
|
| |
How do you feel about asking for advice and for some form of help from others? Do you always resist asking, or do you resist until it is a last resort? Why do people delay making a justified and valid request for ...
|
|
|
|
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
