Kick-Arse Catch-Ups With Your People Create Kick-Arse Cultures
In this guest post, Georgia Murch, a workplace culture expert and author of Feedback Flow; The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Embed Change in 90 Days, offers easy tips to improve staff morale and a fatter bottom line to your business…
We don’t spend enough quality time with our people. Or sometimes we just don’t spend enough time with them at all. We invest so much in recruiting and inducting the right people into our teams and organisations yet when it comes to investing in their growth and development, the momentum stops. It’s like getting married and thinking yep… I’ve got this covered now. And we all know that gets us know where fast. It requires work and effort. The same for our people. The more we invest in them, the better the relationship, their performance improves, the team grows and ultimately the culture becomes kick arse. I call it the ripple effect. It’s not rocket science. It’s quality time with our people.
I get it. Task is king. Let’s just get through the immediate issues and then move on the next. We don’t have time to discuss the other stuff like career aspirations or how they can work through their own people and personal issues. When helping them solve their own problems and we slip into old school mode or telling not helping them work through the solution. We blame time. Yet I think that’s our excuse. We just don’t know how to use it the best way. That’s all.
In 2015 Deloitte were looking at bold ideas and strategies to improve the results in their business with the talent they had. There was strong evidence that the current method of biannual performance reviews was not working. The company knew that they needed to improve the quantity and quality of the conversations their leaders had with their people. When their people were engaged it had a direct link to their productivity and performance. So they asked themselves: Why are we playing with what we have rather than trying something new and different?
Alec Bashinsky, the mastermind behind the new global performance culture for Deloitte, knew things needed to be different. Employees set up the meetings. Managers drove the conversations. Training was offered to employees and managers to facilitate robust coaching conversations. Rigorous measurements were set up to track the impact these check-ins were having, and the company was transparent in sharing the results with everyone.
A year after the changes were introduced, the results were compelling. The more ‘check-ins’ their leaders had with their people, the greater the overall engagement score
They found that the greater frequency of catch ups their leaders had with their people, the greater the engagement. In fact, one check-in per month drove 19 per cent increased engagement, while one check-in per week drove a staggering 44 per cent increase in engagement.
The more regularly they invest in their people, the more they invest in the business. Crazy right?!
When Hewlett Packard was moving towards a more conversation orientated culture they found that when feedback was not being given, engagement dropped by at least 20 per cent. Abode tells us that ‘feedback is the backbone of growth and development check-ins are vital to it’.
Conversations matter. Quantity and quality.
When we focus on the quality of conversations and have them more regularly, outside performance conversations the results are tangible. These catch ups move on from just focusing on the task list and putting out the busy fires, to addressing the spot fires before they blow up. Great catch ups help your people think about their long-term career so they don’t have to wait for performance reviews. They teach people to solve their own problems so they become less dependent on you and grow into a high performer. They make the team and culture better. They help people prep for the tough situations and conversations so there is less to deal with in the day to day.
Kick arse catch ups helps leaders understand how to design and run super productive, engaging and performance-driven catch ups. Yes, we focus on our immediate tasks, our long-term goals and career development but it’s also an incredible opportunity to embed giving and receiving feedback into our everyday. For it to become habitual … and normal.
Latest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.