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You’ve heard the term “change management” and may even know of a company or two that has applied some form of change management services to their project to relocate to a new workplace or redesign their current space. You can’t help but Read More

Here’s why Holland America’s new president ditched his water-view office

When Holland America moves to its new lower Queen Anne offices about 18 months from now, Orlando Ashford will lose the great view of Puget Sound that he currently has from his spacious executive office.

But as president of the Seattle-based cruise line, Ashford says the reason for the move – shifting the company to an open office concept to help the more than 1,000 employees work together – is worth it.

Source: www.bizjournals.com

Holland America’s new workplace change initiative is off to a great start. When an organization secures leadership buy-in (or leaders act as the catalysts for change, such as in Holland’s case) a new workplace strategy has a much higher chance for success.  Conversely, when leaders opt to exclude themselves from an initiative affecting the rest of the workplace, the more likely that resistance to change will manifest.

Individual contributors tend to mimic their leadership, and strive to obtain the career, status, and perceived perks that come with being a higher ranking official within the organization. If company executives can maintain their private offices with the stunning views, there will be little motivation for the rest of the workforce to transition to and work in an open-environment, for example.  The belief that space can and should be used as a currency, or as a reward, is still prevalent in many companies today.

Stegmeier Consulting Group views leadership behavior as an incredibly important Critical Influence that has the potential to make or break a new workplace strategy.  And while it may be difficult to approach the C-Suite from within the organization regarding this, our team is well-versed in conveying business cases for new ways of work to individuals at all levels.  Let Stegmeier Consulting Group help put the “lead by example” mantra to work for your company.

Hireside chat: The magnetism of a great company culture

Culture is the soul of your company; it’s intangible but not nebulous. In fact, it’s all around you. While you can’t quantify culture like a headcount or swipe it like a touchscreen, you can feel it. It can be the difference between an open office space and rows of beige cubicles. It can be the sound of employees collaborating or heading to lunch together. It can be an animated GIF sent in a company-wide email and the barrage of playful responses it generates. It can be giving employees the license to be themselves.

Culture is much more than a place and its perks; it’s about creating an ethos that empowers, inspires, and, ultimately, attracts. And if you do it just right, you will be known for it.

Source: mashable.com

Culture plays such a large role in workplace change initiatives that our founder, Diane Stegmeier, actually included it as one of her “15 Critical Influences” that can affect the success of implementing a new strategy. 

In this article, it is not difficult to see why.  The example company referenced had allowed a culture of distrust to manifest, and employees seemed to lack faith in and respect for their leadership.  When implementing a new workplace strategy, a challenge that could involve altering both how work gets done and in what type of environment, communication and strong leadership are a must to achieve employee buy-in.

When partnering with an organization, one of the first steps Stegmeier Consulting Group will often take is to perform a Critical Influence Analysis.  By conducting this analysis, our team will get a feel for your culture, as well as the 14 other factors that could make or break your workplace change.  Using the results, we’ll then develop recommendations and strategies to move forward appropriately.  Stegmeier Consulting does not offer canned solutions to any client.  Our work, which can involve surveys, communication plans, and program guides, is based on your organization, and what we learn about what it’s like to be part of your team.

Stegmeier Consulting Group can assist with a wide range of challenges involved in implementing a workplace change initiative.  Contact us to find out how our services can help your organization.

https://stegmeierconsulting.com/contact/

Phone: 440-846-1410

Changing the way organizations manage workplace change

What Employee Engagement Means And Why It Matters

Employers who fail to engage their employees are costing their company billions of dollars. What’s more, research from Gallup’s 2013 State of the Global Workplace survey, shows that this is a widespread issue — just 13 percent of worldwide employees say they are engaged at work. In the U.S., where engagement is at 30 percent, Gallup estimates that active disengagement (18 percent of the workforce) costs the economy $450 billion to $550 billion per year. While businesses are busy engaging everyone else under the sun — customers, partners, millennial and more — most employees don’t have any outlets for engagement. Thankfully, every business leader has the power to change this.

Source: www.business2community.com

In corporate environments driven largely by time, money, and customer needs, losing track of yor employees’ levels of engagement can be a costly misstep.  As this article points ou, companies with a higher rate of engaged workers tend to realize higher earnings per share.

During times of change, the importance of employee engagement becomes very apparent.  Ensuring your employees are involved and informed is crucial.  As an organization prepares to move to a new location, or make renovations to their current physical workspace, leaders must act swiftly to ensure uncertainty, and ultimately resistance, do not derail efforts.

Organizations that partner with Stegmeier Consulting Group for their workplace change initiatives will quickly come to realize that many of our services revolve around engaging their workforce.  These include, but are not limited to, creating customized surveys, conducting focus groups, and developing an employee team of “change champions” who will communicate with their fellow employees throughout a project.  We’ve witnessed these strategies effectively minimize resistance in organizations across many industries, and have helped make the overall workplace change a positive  experience for everyone involved.

Stegmeier Consulting Group can assist with a wide range of challenges involved in implementing a workplace change initiative.  Contact us to find out how our services can help your organization.

 

https://stegmeierconsulting.com/contact/

Phone: 440-846-1410

Changing the way organizations manage workplace change

A Beginner’s Guide to Managing a Remote Workforce

Source: www.skilledup.com

Elizabeth Anderson, a consultant with Stegmeier Consulting Group, was recently interviewed for an article on remote work featured on SkilledUp.com.

The article sought to introduce its readers to the concepts, trends, and perceptions of remote work currently prevalent in the business world.  Elizabeth was able to contribute her insight as to how to properly implement and grow a teleworking program from the ground up.  She also was able to provide suggestions on how to utilize technology to enhance the teleworking experience.

To read the entire article, click on the following link: A Beginner’s Guide to Managing a Remote Workforce.


Stegmeier Consulting Group can assist with a wide range of challenges involved in implementing a workplace change initiative.  Contact us to find out how our services can help your organization.

 
https://stegmeierconsulting.com/contact/

Phone: 440-846-1410

Changing the way organizations manage workplace change

 


The Keys to Imprinting Innovation Into Company Culture Are Agility And Flexibility

Over the past 10 years we’ve seen a lot of new innovation within the tech startup community. What prevents large organizations from innovating at the same rate as small tech companies?

Source: www.forbes.com

This article presents us with an interview of Gabe Cooper, a leading mind in the software field.  Mr. Cooper discusses the need for larger tech organizations to become more “agile and resilient”, especially in the face of so many successful startup tech companies sprouting up these days.  Mr. Cooper stresses the importance  of agility and flexibility when it comes to a business model as opposed to a rigid, straight-forward approach that lacks the innovation shown by startup competition.

We at Stegmeier Consulting Group believe that agility and flexibility is just as important in the physical work space as it is in a corporate strategy.  Larger companies hoping to develop, maintain, or improve an innovative culture may want to take time to study the landscape in which their employees work.  Does this environment allow for collaboration?  Can employees move freely about the workplace without losing their ability to be productive?  And what remote working capabilities exist so employees spend more time generating ideas rather than commuting?  At SCG, we possess the tools and experience that can answer these questions and guide your company through a successful change initiative.  

Stegmeier Consulting Group can assist with a wide range of challenges involved in implementing a workplace change initiative.  Contact us to find out how our services can help your organization.

https://stegmeierconsulting.com/contact/

Phone: 440-846-1410

Changing the way organizations manage workplace change