How To Help Your Employees Love Their Work

Nothing motivates more than understanding how your role contributes to organisational goals. Thats why goal setting should always cascade from the top: organisational goals, leading to functional or business unit goals, leading to team goals and finally to individual goals.?

This process ensures that everyone finds meaning and purpose in their work.?

When I was the Group HR Head of Asia's largest Biotech, I used to facilitate a 2 day session on goal setting for the entire HR team (around 50 people). To kick off, I used to invite the CMD to come and address us, and share her expectations from the HR team. After that I would address them and next the various groups would break up and do some brainstorming on each of their work areas. I used to float between the groups, listen in, and offer encouragement and advice when needed. By the end of the day, each team would present to the entire HR team who in turn would give their comments and suggestions. This served 2 main purposes: it helped the HR folks appreciate better what other teams did, and also articulating your goals in public brought about ownership and commitment. The morning of the second day would involve the groups revising their presentations based on the comments received on the first evening, followed by a second round of presentations. These were all compiled and the team leads and managers were responsible for cascading these down to the individual level. Clarity on goals, and being held accountable for tangible results was for me the best way I knew to draw out the best from the entire team.

Understanding how your work contributes towards organisational imperatives leads to enjoying your work, and brings you back to work eager to begin afresh each morning.