This Week's Herman Trend Alert

The Consequences of Virtual Meetings
 

  The Herman Trend Alert

February 8, 2006

Focus on the Individual

As employers move through the next 10-15 years, they will discover that concentrating on individuals will be considerably more productive than pushing any one-size-fits-all concept. Employees seek, expect, even demand the personal attention. Their attitudes will drive employers, and then others, to correct their deficiencies. We will see this shift from groups, teams, and classes of people in practically all aspects of corporate life.

Job descriptions will disappear. Replacing them will be role descriptions and individualized “Expectations Statements”. No longer will we attempt to force square pegs to fit into round holes. People will be hired for attitudes and competencies, then trained to build their skills even further. Their training will match their jobs, giving them confidence and satisfaction. Additional training will support job expansion.

Compensation will also be tailored to each employee, rather than paying everyone in the same position the same amount. People, who come to an employer with higher skills, even if those skills are not utilized in their current jobs, will be paid commensurate with those skills. As employers pay more attention to performance management, merit pay will be given more attention. Benefits packages will be designed for each individual employee and his or her family.

Supervisors will engage in more serious performance management, linking individual expectations with individual results. Accountability will be pushed downward in smart organizations, building a greater sense of personal ownership of results. This accountability, combined with recognition and reward, will support employee retention. Employers will use this money saved from turnover to increase compensation and training.

Training and development will be guided by individual growth plans created and managed by the employee and the employee’s immediate supervisor. A wide range of learning experiences---from reading assignments to hands-on work---will be included in each plan, depending on what is needed by the employee.

In employment settings where flexibility is possible, the employee’s working hours will be under the control of---or heavily influenced by---the employee. Coworkers will make their own arrangements to assure coverage with a shared focus on results.

Workplaces will become communities of individuals, working toward shared goals.


© Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc."


BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM
A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week).

BUSINESS IS PICKING UP
Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com.

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL
Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html.


Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers.

New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert.


Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert
View this week's Herman Trend Alert
Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         


[ Home · About · Products · Resources · Media ]

 
7112 Viridian Lane
Austin, TX 78739
Voice: 336-210-3547
Toll Free in US & Canada: 800-227-3566
E-mail: info@hermangroup.com

  © The Herman Group. All rights reserved.

Web site design by WebEditor Design Services, Inc.