In 2015, London Business School professor of finance Alex
Edmans gave a TED Talk on his research on the link between
employee wellbeing and business performance using data from
Great Place to Work®. The study revealed employee wellbeing
led to positive financial performance, not the reverse. Treating
employees well creates higher-quality delivery of products/
services.
So how is strong employee wellbeing created at organizations
to drive revenue?
LESSON 1: INCLUSION OVER DIVERSITY
A great workplace is only great if the whole workforce experiences
it. Successful leaders leverage every ounce of human potential, recognizing
diversity as a competitive advantage. There is now an
emphasis on inclusion, as well.
Example: Every BMO recruiter is trained on the importance
of inclusion in recruitment, attending sessions focused on
teaching recruiters to eliminate bias in the talent acquisition
process.
LESSON 2: WHEN LEADERS ARE EFFECTIVE, SO IS
THE BUSINESS
The best leaders have a few common characteristics:
■■ They are credible and communicate their vision for where the
company is going and how they’re going to get there.
■■ They respect and appreciate employee efforts.
■■ Promotions and recognition are based on merit, not age or race.
Example: IndustryBuilt helps develop leadership skills with 10-minute
“scrums.” These meetings provide weekly updates and are hosted by
a new employee each week. Employees have the opportunity to develop
their public speaking and confidence for future leadership roles.
engagement
42 ❚ APRIL 2018 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL
