Putting People First: Crafting a Human-Centered Approach to Strategy.

Many Strategies Today Are Business, Growth, and Mainly Profit Centered. This has brought all of us to a dead end. It is Time for Human-Centered Strategy.

What is the human-centered approach to strategy?

Listening to all stakeholders and understanding their wants and needs—practicing empathy—is the starting point of a human-centered approach to solving business problems. In essence, it's putting people first.

Following is the old method to strategy towards business which has led to collapse:

1.Lots of people with burnout and stress complaints, to the extent that they have to take a sick leave, quit their jobs, and need treatment

2.Employee shortages across industries, high turnover rates, and people dissatisfied with their working environment

3. New generations looking for a better work-life balance, more flexibility and freedom, and more sense giving to their lives

4.Geopolitical anxiety and polarization in and between countries across the globe—with war as its most extreme exponent

5.A planet under severe pressure in terms of climate change, pollution and resource consumption

People are exhausted and the planet is exhausted. And when there is exhaustion, there is a need for change. It’s a sign that things cannot go on as they have been going on.

Let’s look into the topic of employee retention and the importance of a human-centered strategy in today’s business landscape.

The Great Resignation and the Need for Employee Retention Strategies

In recent times, the workforce has witnessed a phenomenon known as the “Great Resignation.” Millions of employees across various sectors worldwide have left their jobs, seeking better opportunities or more fulfilling work experiences. As employers, it’s crucial to recognize the factors driving this trend and take proactive steps to retain valuable talent.

Why Employees Leave and Why They Stay

Before we explore specific strategies, let’s understand why employees leave organizations and what encourages them to stay:

Inadequate Salaries: Competitive compensation is essential. Employees need to feel that their hard work is valued through fair pay and regular adjustments to keep up with inflation.

Career Advancement: Opportunities for growth and development play a significant role. Clear career paths, mentorship, and learning opportunities foster employee satisfaction.

Work-Life Balance: Encouraging work-life balance helps prevent burnout. Flexible scheduling and reduced workdays can contribute to employee well-being.

Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledging employees’ efforts and rewarding exceptional work boosts morale and loyalty.

Company Culture: A positive workplace culture—one where employees feel connected, respected, and part of a community—enhances retention.

Teamwork and Engagement: Emphasize collaboration and teamwork. Engaged employees are more likely to stay.

Wellness Offerings: Providing wellness programs, mental health support, and other well-being initiatives demonstrates care for employees.

Job Perks: Beyond salary, consider additional perks like remote work options, extra time off, or unique benefits.

Professional Development: Invest in employees’ growth by offering training, workshops, and skill-building opportunities.

Cultural Fit: Hiring for cultural alignment ensures employees feel comfortable and aligned with the organization’s values.

Retention Management: Continuously assess and manage retention efforts. Regular feedback and adjustments are essential.

Knowing When to Say Goodbye: Sometimes, it’s necessary to part ways amicably. Recognize when an employee’s goals no longer align with the companies.

Human-Centered Strategy: Putting People First

Now, let’s focus on the concept of a human-centered strategy. It involves prioritizing employee satisfaction, engagement, and well-being in decision-making and policy development.

The Shift Toward Human-Centered Strategy

Understanding the Human Element

Traditional business strategies often prioritize financial metrics, market share, and operational efficiency. However, the tide is turning. Organizations now recognize that success hinges on understanding the needs, motivations, and aspirations of their employees, customers, and stakeholders. Human-centered strategy acknowledges that people are not mere resources but the driving force behind any business endeavor.

Employee Well-Being and Engagement

Happy, engaged employees are more productive, creative, and loyal. A human-centered strategy fosters a positive work environment, emphasizing employee well-being, work-life balance, and professional growth. Leaders invest in training, mentorship, and mental health support, recognizing that motivated teams lead to better outcomes.

Customer-Centric Innovation

In a customer-centric world, businesses thrive by solving real problems for their clients. Human-centered strategy involves empathizing with customers, conducting user research, and co-creating solutions. By actively listening to feedback and adapting products and services accordingly, companies build lasting relationships and drive customer loyalty.

Here’s how to implement it:

Listen Actively: Regularly seek feedback from employees. Understand their needs, concerns, and aspirations.

Flexible Work Arrangements: Allow remote work, flexible hours, and job-sharing options. Trust employees to manage their time effectively.

Meaningful Work: Connect employees to the purpose of their roles. Show how their contributions impact the organization’s mission.

Recognition and Appreciation: Celebrate achievements, both big and small. Recognize individual and team efforts.

Invest in Learning: Provide opportunities for skill development, mentorship, and continuous learning.

Promote Well-Being: Prioritize physical, mental, and emotional health. Offer wellness programs and mental health resources.

Inclusive Environment: Foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. Create a safe space where everyone feels valued.

Career Pathways: Clearly define growth opportunities. Encourage internal promotions and lateral moves.

Leadership Development: Train managers to lead with empathy, communication, and fairness.

Balance Metrics and Humanity: While metrics matter, remember that employees are individuals with unique needs.

Design Thinking :Design thinking—a problem-solving methodology—puts people at the center. It involves five stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. By involving cross-functional teams and engaging stakeholders, organizations can create solutions that resonate with users.

Agile Methodology: Agile principles encourage flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. Teams work in short cycles, adapting to changing circumstances. A human-centered approach within an agile framework ensures that customer feedback informs each iteration, leading to continuous improvement.

Ethical Decision-Making: Human-centered strategy considers ethical implications. Leaders weigh the impact of their decisions on employees, communities, and the environment. Transparency, fairness, and social responsibility guide choices, fostering trust and long-term sustainability.

Human-Centered Strategy Is A Strategy That Puts Human Beings, with all their traits and characteristics, center-stage—and not the economy, financials, or business success. More specifically, it is strategy that embraces the following five aspects of being human:

A.Human Skills

We are not just rational calculating machines or hands that execute. Human-centered strategy also taps our creativity, imagination, emotions, gut feeling, and judgment.

The Power of People: Human Skills in Human Strategy

In a world increasingly dominated by automation and technology, it's easy to overlook the fundamental importance of human skills. But within the realm of human strategy, these skills are the cornerstones of success.

Human skills, also known as soft skills, encompass a wide range of interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities. These include:

Communication: Clearly and concisely conveying ideas, both verbally and in writing, while actively listening to understand others.

Collaboration: Working effectively with others towards a common goal, fostering trust and teamwork.

Critical Thinking: Analyzing information, identifying problems, and developing creative solutions.

Empathy: Understanding and responding to the emotions and perspectives of others.

Adaptability: Adjusting to changing circumstances and embracing new information.

Why are Human Skills Strategic?

While technology automates tasks, human skills are what drive innovation, build strong relationships, and navigate complex challenges.?

Here's how:

Fueling Innovation: Effective communication and collaboration allow diverse teams to share ideas, fostering a creative environment.

Building Strong Teams: Empathy and emotional intelligence help build trust and psychological safety, leading to more engaged and productive teams.

Adapting to Change: Critical thinking and a growth mindset empower individuals and teams to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape.

Investing in Human Skills

Recognizing the strategic value of human skills is just the first step. Organizations can invest in their human capital through:

Training Programs: Providing workshops and coaching opportunities to develop specific skills.

Mentorship Programs: Pairing experienced employees with newcomers to foster knowledge transfer and develop interpersonal skills.

Performance Reviews: Integrating human skills development into performance evaluations.

By prioritizing human skills within your human strategy, you empower your workforce to thrive in an increasingly complex world. After all, it's the people who bring strategy to life.

B. Human Relationships

Work involves personal relationships. Human-centered strategy acknowledges these relationships and takes into account the profound impact it can have on them.

The Strength in Numbers: Human Relationships in Human Strategy

Human strategy isn't just about individuals; it's about the connections that bind them. Strong human relationships are the mortar that holds successful teams and organizations together.

Why Relationships Matter

Positive relationships within a company foster a sense of belonging, leading to several key benefits:

Enhanced Collaboration: Trusting relationships make communication more open and honest, allowing teams to work together seamlessly towards shared goals.

Increased Innovation: When team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and challenging assumptions, a culture of creativity flourishes.

Improved Problem-Solving: Diverse perspectives and a willingness to help each other lead to more effective solutions to complex problems.

Boosted Employee Engagement: Strong relationships make work more enjoyable and fulfilling, leading to higher levels of motivation and productivity.

Building Strong Relationships

There's no magic formula, but fostering positive human relationships requires intentionality.

Here are some strategies:

Empowering Open Communication: Encourage honest and respectful dialogue, both within teams and across departments.

Promoting Teamwork: Create opportunities for collaboration through shared projects, team-building exercises, and cross-functional meetings.

Recognizing and Celebrating Achievements: Acknowledge individual and team successes to build morale and strengthen bonds.

Encouraging Empathy and Respect: Foster a culture of understanding and inclusivity where everyone feels valued and heard.

Investing in Relationships Makes a Difference

By prioritizing human relationships within your human strategy, you create a work environment where people feel supported, valued, and motivated to contribute their best.? Strong relationships aren't just a happy byproduct; they're a strategic investment in the success of your organization.

C. Human Values

We share fundamental values such as integrity, empathy, and caring for each other and our environment. Human-centered strategy starts from these foundations.

The Moral Compass: Human Values in Human Strategy

Human strategy isn't just about achieving goals; it's about achieving them in a way that aligns with the core values that define your organization and its people.? These human values – the fundamental beliefs about what's right, good, and important – act as a moral compass, guiding decision-making and fostering a strong sense of purpose.

Why Values Matter

Clearly defined and actively embraced human values offer several strategic advantages:

Ethical Decision-Making: Values provide a framework for navigating complex situations, ensuring decisions are made with integrity and social responsibility.

Employee Engagement: When employees feel their values align with the organization's, they're more engaged, motivated, and invested in its success.

Employer Branding: A strong set of values attracts and retains top talent who seek workplaces that reflect their own ethical beliefs.

Building Trust: Consistent adherence to values builds trust with stakeholders, including customers, partners, and the community.

Identifying and Aligning Values

The first step is to identify the core human values that resonate with your organization and its people. This can involve:

Employee Surveys and Focus Groups: Gathering input from employees at all levels to understand their values.

Leadership Reflection: Considering the values that have guided the organization's past success.

Industry & Societal Considerations: Understanding the values expected within your industry and broader social context.

Once identified, these values need to be integrated into the fabric of the organization:

Leadership Actions: Leaders must consistently model and champion these values in their own behavior.

Decision-Making Processes: Integrate values into decision-making frameworks to ensure ethical and responsible choices.

Performance Reviews: Hold employees accountable for upholding the organization's values.

Communication & Recognition: Clearly communicate the values and recognize employees who embody them.

Values: A Strategic Advantage

By actively integrating human values into your human strategy, you create a foundation for ethical decision-making, employee engagement, and long-term organizational success.? Remember, strong values are more than just words on a poster; they're the guiding principles that define who you are and how you operate, attracting, retaining, and motivating the best people to achieve your goals.

D. Human Needs

We all like to be seen and heard, contribute, grow, and be meaningful. Human-centered strategy takes these needs seriously as a basis for what an organization should do.

The Motivational Engine: Human Needs in Human Strategy

Human strategy isn't just about directing actions; it's about understanding the underlying motivations that drive those actions.? By incorporating human needs into your strategy, you can create a work environment that fosters satisfaction, engagement, and ultimately, high performance.

Understanding Human Needs

Multiple theories explore human needs, but Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides a useful framework. This pyramid outlines five tiers of needs, with basic physiological needs like food and shelter forming the foundation. As these basic needs are met, individuals progress towards higher-level needs such as safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Needs in the Workplace

Within the context of human strategy, these needs translate into:

Security and Stability: Employees seek a work environment with job security, fair compensation, and predictable schedules.

Belonging and Connection: People want to feel valued members of a team, fostering collaboration and positive social interactions.

Recognition and Purpose: Employees crave opportunities to contribute meaningfully and receive recognition for their achievements.

Growth and Development: Individuals desire opportunities to learn new skills and continuously develop their professional capabilities.

Meeting Needs Through Strategy

By understanding these needs, you can develop strategies to address them:

Job Security & Benefits: Offer competitive compensation packages and clear career advancement paths.

Teamwork & Collaboration: Foster a culture of open communication, teamwork, and recognition for team achievements.

Meaningful Work: Align individual roles with the organization's mission and provide opportunities to contribute significantly.

Learning & Development: Offer training programs, mentorship opportunities, and support for professional development.

The Power of Fulfilled Needs

When human needs are met within the workplace, the benefits are clear:

Increased Motivation: Employees who feel secure, valued, and have opportunities to grow are naturally more motivated to excel.

Enhanced Innovation: A fulfilled workforce fosters a culture of creativity and problem-solving.

Improved Retention: Employees who feel their needs are being met are more likely to stay with the organization.

Human Needs: A Strategic Investment

By strategically addressing human needs, you create a work environment that motivates, engages, and retains top talent.? Remember, your human strategy isn't just about achieving goals; it's about creating a workplace where people can thrive and contribute their best.

E. Human Conditions

To flourish, we need the right balance between challenge and support, pressure and safety, and direction and kindness. Human-centered strategy creates such conditions.

At a higher level of abstraction, human-centered strategy changes the metaphor of organizations as machines to organizations as social networks. Instead of merely being efficient means of production, organizations are places where people join and collaborate.

The Human Reality: Human Conditions in Human Strategy

Human strategy isn't just about flawless plans; it's about acknowledging the realities and limitations that shape human behavior.? These human conditions – the inherent aspects of being human –? impact everything from decision-making to motivation. By acknowledging and understanding these conditions, you can develop a more realistic and effective human strategy.

Key Human Conditions to Consider

Finite Attention & Cognitive Bias: Humans have limited attention spans and are prone to cognitive biases that can lead to errors in judgment. This necessitates clear communication, focused goals, and minimizing distractions.

Emotional Influence: Emotions play a significant role in decision-making and behavior. Understanding emotional drivers can help create a work environment that fosters well-being and optimizes performance.

Diversity of Needs & Values: People have diverse needs, motivations, and values. A successful strategy recognizes this and caters to a variety of working styles and aspirations.

Physical Limitations: We all have physical and mental limitations that impact our capacity for work. Ergonomics, flexible work arrangements, and a culture of well-being can help address these limitations.

Human Conditions: Not Obstacles, Opportunities

These human conditions aren't obstacles to overcome; they're opportunities to design a more effective human strategy:

Adaptive Work Design: Create flexible work arrangements, varied tasks, and opportunities for autonomy to cater to different needs and preferences.

Empathy-Driven Leadership: Leaders who understand the emotional landscape can foster trust, psychological safety, and build stronger teams.

Inclusive Work Practices: Design strategies and processes that acknowledge and value diversity in thought, experience, and background.

Supportive Work Environment: Invest in employee well-being initiatives to help people manage stress, maintain health, and perform at their best.

The Power of Acknowledgment

By acknowledging human conditions within your human strategy,? you create a more realistic and sustainable approach to achieving goals.? Remember, your strategy should work with people, not against them. When you understand and address the inherent realities of being human, you can create a work environment that fosters not just productivity, but also well-being and long-term success.

Conclusion

In today’s dynamic business landscape, organizations must pivot toward human-centered strategy. By valuing people—employees, customers, and society—we create resilient, purpose-driven enterprises that thrive even in challenging times. Let us embrace this shift, putting people first as we craft strategies for a better future.

Remember, the success of any strategy lies not only in financial gains but also in the positive impact it has on people’s lives, the success of any strategy also lies in its implementation. Adapt these principles to your organization’s context and watch your employee retention soar

In conclusion, a human-centered strategy recognizes that employees are the heart of any organization. By prioritizing their well-being, growth, and satisfaction, businesses can create a workplace where people thrive and choose to stay long-term.

Embracing a human-centered approach to strategy isn’t just a business imperative; it’s a moral compass guiding us toward a more compassionate and sustainable future.

By prioritizing people—whether employees, customers, or society at large—we unlock innovation, resilience, and purpose. As we navigate the complexities of today’s world, let us remember that success isn’t solely measured in profits but in the positive impact we create for those we serve.

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Pratibha Singh

Spiritual Meditation & pranayam classes ? The practice of stopping negativity through pranayama and deep meditation and developing positive energy i.e. the practice of expanding prana kriya/breaths gives us perfection.

4 个月

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Pratibha Singh

Spiritual Meditation & pranayam classes ? The practice of stopping negativity through pranayama and deep meditation and developing positive energy i.e. the practice of expanding prana kriya/breaths gives us perfection.

4 个月

Respected Sir, I completely agree with your thoughts. I am also trying for my meditation and pranayam class, how women sitting at home can give importance to their physical and mental development at low fees. This class of mine will be in “Hindi” only, if we get the blessings of elders like you in the form of thoughts, then our enthusiasm increases ????????

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