people

‘Sacrifice People to save numbers’

Jane JamesLeave a comment

I came across this quote whilst reading work by Simon Sinek – the renowned motivational speaker – check him out on YouTube.

 

We’ve all seen companies downsize their staff in turbulent financial times with no thought about the impact on those individuals, their families nor the overall drop in moral on the staff they keep.

 

Even when there isn’t a financial downturn, companies will often shred staff to reduce their payroll bill and thus increase their profits – more palatable for the shareholders – or is it?

 

I worked for a company for over 12 years.  Just before the financial reporting, a round of redundancies would be announced to ensure the company retained it’s double digit growth.  In reality, they haven’t grown at all.  All they had done was culled their staff.

 

Simon’s point was what would happen if companies did the reverse? ‘Sacrificed the numbers to save the people’ – what a thought.  The example he gave was of Bob Chapman Chair of Barry-Wehmiller in USA.  This company was a £1bn plus turnover and made big machinery.  In the 2008 financial crash he decided to ‘sacrifice the numbers to save the people’.   With 30% written of the company’s value in one fail swoop – it was time to try something new.

 

He suggested everyone – from himself downwards, would take four weeks unpaid holiday.  They didn’t have to take it consecutively and they could take it when they wanted but everyone would keep their jobs.  The response was huge.  Those senior people who could afford to take more unpaid leave traded with those that couldn’t.  Everyone worked as a family, pulling together.  They were involved in the decision, given the support to do it and felt safe and happy.  The company prospered.  It enjoys 20% year on year growth compared with the average 6%.

 

When you believe in why you are doing something, everything else falls into place.  People support you because they believe in the same thing.

 

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if all companies ‘Sacrificed the numbers for the people’?

 

How much more would their profits grow?  What do you think?

Social Mobility – What is it exactly?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

I was thinking about this the other day.  Maybe my definition is different to others….

 

So what prompted this thought?  I’d been invited by a global financial services organisation with a multi £bn turnover and global presence to share my work with their Social Mobility team.

 

During this meeting I explained how I devised and run Growing Talent which has got over 120 people from the ranks of the unemployed into permanent jobs which they have flourished in.  Over four years, many have returned to encourage those following them and shared how much Growing Talent had changed their lives.  Some have started their own business.

 

I gave many examples from graduates who had no direction, self belief nor understanding of what the world of employment looked like to people like Richard – mid 30s, never worked – who not only completed the programme but has been employed for over two years now.

 

People on Growing Talent come from all social backgrounds including the homeless, single parents, people who have experienced mental health issues and so on.

 

With nurturing and encouragement they have secured employment, got savings, taken back control of their lives and have immense self-belief.  To me, this is social mobility.

 

At the end of the meeting, the Social Mobility team said Growing Talent was good but what about clothes?  Clothes do not bring about change.  A mindset, encouragement into work and self belief do as my evidence shows.

 

So what does Social Mobility mean to you?  Is it a new set of clothes or is it giving the tools to someone to literally change their lives?

 

I sincerely hope the money being invested into these Social Mobility teams actually delivers real change and doesn’t just become a tick box exercise….

Businesses – want to multiple your profits by 3?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

The link below – which you’ll need to cut and paste into your browser – features some interesting research from Soma Analytics.

 

HRH Prince Harry asked in a radio broadcast what affect mental health had on business. The financial cost has been well known for years as has the human cost on individuals, colleagues, families, line management etc.

 

Soma Analytics research showed  two out of three UK large businesses do not publish their mental health strategy and support for their staff in their Annual Reports.  More startling was businesses that did publish this information saw their profits increase by three times!

 

It’s well known if you look after your staff, your staff will look after your customers and business with grow and profits increase.  So why is business so reluctant to publish what they do in their Annual Reports?

 

There is no health without good mental health…….

 

Check out the feature for yourself.  What do you think?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42512723

 

 

18 December 2017 – what a night!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

GROUP

Seen above are some of the 27 Growing Talent Graduates of 2017 after receiving their Graduation prize – a logo’d fitbit from Jon and Steve of PwC centre rear.

 

A fabulous evening of catch-up for the Graduates – some had not seen each other for almost a year!

 

Of course, it was off to the pub for liquid refreshments shortly after this was taken – very well deserved!

 

Well done to all of you………

 

What will 2018 bring?

 

More information at http://www.growing-talent.co.uk…….

 

Shocking staff treatment…….

Jane JamesLeave a comment

It amazes me – a major name in business promotes it’s key charity – which runs through a supplier – helping homeless people whilst having a commercial yet loss making arm and immediately I thought – that’s great, making a difference to people and not worried about profits – refreshing.

 

Having spoke to someone who worked there until recently, I’m astounded at their treatment and the apparent blindness of the business in the working practices of their supplier.  There is a complete risk to brand reputation and clearly no due diligence nor operational monitoring.

 

This individual had raised several times to management the stress and pressure the team were experiencing due to the heavy workload.  The management ignored all concerns.  They raised further concerns on a lack of training again they were ignored.  They then raised the fact that despite working 1.5 hours extra every morning and 6 hours extra every Friday, the workload could not be completed.  The additional hours worked were unpaid and time off in lieu not allowed.

 

The individual was then told to leave the premises.  They would be given two weeks money and that will be it but they weren’t being sacked.  Nothing in writing.  No due process.

 

Exploitation, whistleblowing – just two unsavoury thoughts that sprang to my mind and will do every time I see the brands of the supplier and their business client.

 

It’s taught me to take everything at face value.  Great works in the community aren’t always as great as they may seem.

 

Shameful.

Solution to all problems……

Jane JamesLeave a comment

How often do you hear ‘you’ll feel better after a strong cup of tea’? or ‘cup of tea with plenty of sugar – it’s good for the shock’……

 

Whatever situation we are going through, a cup of tea is thought to ease the way.

 

So, a pretty sobering piece in The Metro this morning!  ……… which published findings ‘office teabags have 17 times more germs than a loo seat’

 

When you consider that statement remember office teabags are usually stored in an open jar which everyone can help themselves to.  How many times have you been in the toilets at work and seen people come out of a cubicle and leave the area without washing their hands…………. then they make a cup of team – ouch!

 

I can see how the findings could be right – what do you think?

 

Maybe think twice before accepting that cuppa!  Better still, bring your own cup and T-Bags in!

Life skills from the Navy Seals…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Admiral William H McRaven gave an insightful life lessen in a graduation speech in 2014.  Key points came from his basic seal training back in 1977 and is highly relevant today……..  You can track down the film on You Tube…

If you want to change the world – or just your part in it:

Start with making your bed.  what was the point of daily bed inspections?  To set the bar.  If you can’t do the little stuff – you’ll never do the big stuff. It sets a positive note for the day – you’ve completed your first task!  If nothing else, you’ll come home to a well made bed!

Learn how to paddle! A boat will only travel efficiently if everyone works together.  Know when to ask for help. The ‘munchkins’ where the best paddle team.  From different backgrounds, different statues, all had heart, worked together and won the challenge.

Get over being a cookie – for failed uniform inspection, seals had to go in the water then roll in the sand – called ‘cookie’.  They then stayed in this all day.  Many couldn’t take this constant failure and dropped out.  They missed the lesson of failure.  You have to keep going.

 

Embrace the circus: for failing a physical challenge, a Seal had to do two extra hours.  Embrace it, it builds stamina.  The lesson is you will fail and sometime fail often but keep going, it builds stamina and resilience.

 

Go head first – sometimes you have to do things a different way and dive in.

 

Face down the bullies – Seals are trained to stand their ground when swimming in shark infested waters.  If a shark circles – punch it hard on the snout – it will swim away.

 

Be the best you can – especially in the darkest moment.

When you’re up to your neck in mud – start singing! – The power of hope.  It takes just one person and spreads quickly.  Think of Washington, Lincoln, King, Mahala

 

Don’t ever ring the bell!  In Seal training, there is a brass bell which people ring  to give up.  Never give-up.  Keep going you will succeed.

 

“Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, then the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today.”

“It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status. Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward—changing ourselves and the world around us—will apply equally to all.”

“Changing the world can happen anywhere and anyone can do it.”

Some great lessons for us all………..

The ‘Internal Supervisor’……

Jane JamesLeave a comment

I heard this term for the first time on the ASIST 2 day workshop in Brighton.  A fellow delegate was a psychotherapist and used it to explain a technique used professionally.

 

When speaking with a client, she uses her ‘Internal Supervisor’ to highlight the occasions to dig deeper.  If she found herself getting bored, was her client getting monotone and repetitive.  Often people do this when they are trying to avoid the real issue.  As she explained this, I realised we all have an ‘Internal Supervisor’ or ‘gut instinct’.

 

I must admit, I had never questioned my moods when listening to someone else but I will from now on.  It’s a logical tool to use in supporting people to ensure we dig deep enough to get the entire story out.

 

Are you intone with your ‘Internal Supervisor’?

Right?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

It’s amazing the UK takes years – literally – to remove illegal immigrants but someone who has lived, studied and worked here continually for the last 10 years paying full tax and National Insurance has just been given 60 days notice to leave the UK.  Her employers – a global organisation – on learning this, terminated her employment immediately.

 

How can this be right?

 

I totally understand and agree people who have no right to be here, who haven’t worked or contributed to the country’s taxes should be removed immediately.  Especially criminals, those who spread hate etc.

 

Why not set a barrier – maybe those who were here legally before say 2014 would have their cases looked at individually not as a ‘tick box’ exercise.

 

It seems wholly tasteless to wreck someone’s life who has put so much into the UK.

 

Shouldn’t we focus time, energy and resources to removing criminals who have no right to be here…….

Need talent in your business?………

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Why not ‘grow our own’!

 

As the feature photo from Preparing for Shtf’s website illustrates, great veg are the result of careful nurturing over weeks/months.   The results are better than any ‘brought off the shelf’!

 

At Growing Talent we believe the same is true when looking for talent.

 

Businesses who partner Growing Talent recruit people they wouldn’t normally with solid sustainable results.  Retention and commitment increases. As does, team spirit, morale and productivity.

 

Growing Talent, the B2B forum that brings the unemployed, employers and JobCentre Plus together, is completely free to use.  Funded by business for business to take a leap of faith.  No cvs and no job description. Why pay for your talent when you can Grow Your Own and get great diversity at the same time?

 

Over 111 people have secured permanent jobs.  Some have never worked before.  Some are graduates and some have solid employment history at all levels.  The nurturing selected individuals receive in situ gives the opportunity for them to showcase their skills, potential and fit with the business without trying to ‘sell’ themselves in a traditional interview.

 

With many success stories, we begin the next round on 18 September with the first stage selection.

 

If you need to recruit – why not ‘grow your own’? It’s easy partnering Growing Talent.

 

Final thought:  A recruitment company charging 18% on a £20K salary will cost £3,600.  Growing Talent is free!