The Hierarchy of Needs for Employee Engagement

The Hierarchy of Needs for Employee Engagement Has your company cracked the employee engagement piece yet? Very few companies that Im aware of seem to  be happy with their levels of engagement and are  constantly looking for new ways to tackle the issue. Our friends and staff survey specialists at  Scancapture have looked at  employee engagement from a psychology point of view in the graphic above. Do you remember Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs theory  was fully expressed in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality.  According to Wikipedia, the hierarchy remains a very popular framework in sociology research, management training  and secondary and higher psychology instruction. So why not apply it to employee engagement. Maslows idea was that  people have to  satisfy basic human needs like eating, being safe and comfortable in your environment before you can start thinking about personal growth and intellectual development. Interesting: Maslows Hierarchy of needs applied to employee engagement. How many of not engaged and disengaged survive in a startup? pic.twitter.com/bJL9M81wld Anna Friedrich (@annasophie) October 13, 2016 So how can we apply this in a workplace context?  Lets start from the bottom: 1. Survival The updated model replaces the physiological step  with survival, this means trading your time and effort in exchange for money so that you can  keep your lifestyle ticking over and have food on the table. This step is of course integral to any type of career progression and personal development; without funds you will struggle to move up the pyramid. There are of course a minority of  people who are happy with taking risks, some would call them entrepreneurs, such as  jumping ship to pursue your dream without having the money for it. 2. Security Security is up next and it corresponds to the original safety need for Maslow. When we talk about security in the workplace, its job security most people fear being laid off and having to look for something else. There are no longer jobs for life, not even in public service, but that doesnt mean people have given up on wanting a stable career path.  Two very important aspects of security would be whether a job is a fixed position and of course what the salary is  the answer to both of these should be satisfactory to the job seeker. 3. Belonging Most big companies can hire people on a permanent basis and pay them well, at least when they require experienced people. Once somebody does get job security and a decent salary, what do they want next? Maslow would say love and belonging, in the workplace well settle for belonging; holding trust and acceptance within a group. People have a need to be part of something bigger than themselves, typically something along with purpose as opposed to making more money. 4. Important Almost at the top we find esteem as a requirement for Maslow, in our pyramid this  has been converted into importance. An employee has to feel that theyre making an important contribution to the organisation. As long as everyone within the company knows how their job fits in with the bigger picture and how they  help pushing the business forward, they ought to  feel their work is important. 5. Self-actualisation Finally weve reached the apex of our hierarchy of needs, and just like with Maslow were in the market for self-actualisation.  Most people have high ambitions but only about 15% reach this level of being highly engaged. The individual who has achieved self-actualisation will inspire others to do their best and always ask what they can do for others. RELATED: 10 Shocking  Stats About Employee Engagement.

How to Make Yourself an Undesirable Job Candidate

How to Make Yourself an Undesirable Job Candidate Job interviews are a challenge, not only for the job seeker but also the hiring manager. As the hiring manager, my goal is to identify and hire a person who is talented, trainable, and deeply committed to the work that I was leading. If you are a leader, you know that the right person, and the wrong person for that matter, would make a day and night difference.Because of this, I look at recruiting and interviewing to be critically important. Fundamentally, I am looking for a “fit.” This fit is not just a “talent fit”, but also a “relationship fit”. After all, statistics show that we spend 8 hours and 52 minutes at work each day; in contrast to 25 minutes to care for the family.Here are ways to make yourself look like an undesirable job candidate by making a hiring manager seriously question if he/she should further progress your job candidacy.1. No QuestionsWhen I am interviewed, I love the part when I am asked, “Do you have any questions for us?” Why? Because I alway s have a list of questions, whether the person interviewing me is the CEO or the HR generalist.This is one chance for me to find out what the company is really about. What is the culture really like? What are the business challenges? And I get to find out “straight from the horse’s mouth”.So, when my interviewer does not ask any questions, a lot of thoughts go through my mind. Does this interviewer think they know the company already? Aren’t they at least somewhat curious? Furthermore, if they really have no questions, why can’t they find some other way to engage me? It also gives the impression that they are a bit cold, unable to have a conversation, engage, and lead people somewhere.2. Bad QuestionsQuestions from the candidate reveal their interests and priorities. A bad question is a prelude to a candidate who is more than likely not a fit. Some bad questions that come to mind:“If I’m hired, when can I start applying for other positions in the company?”To me, this is a sign of a job hopper. I am not interested in hiring a job-hopper. I am not going to invest the time to train and equip this new employee if he is already planning an exit strategy.“How quickly can I be promoted?”When I hear this, I hear an opportunist rather than a team player. An opportunist is a poison to a team culture.“Do you do background checks?”I wonder what this person must be hiding.3. Excuses“Tell me about a time where you failed”. I love to ask this question. I want an employee who learns from past failures and challenges. I value a person who has scar tissue from the real world. However, some would focus on excuses and cast blame on the situation and environment that created the failure. These candidates will not make an ideal employee. They are unteachable. They are toxic to a collaborative work culture. No thank you.4. Overly Aggressive NegotiationWhen someone negotiates salary, benefits, or some other aspect of the role with over the top assertivenes s, I quickly pull back. I think either:The person is not overly excited about the job as described. The person has an overly inflated ego and this will never end.These are all signs indicative of a prima donna. No thank you. If you raise red flags in the ways mentioned above, you will become the undesirable job candidate. The company will assume you will prevent the organization from continuing down a path of success, and eventually deteriorate the team.If you are interviewing for a job this week, and you want the job, do not make yourself undesirable by committing the mistakes mentioned above.

CES®2018 - Ms Career Girl In Las Vegas #CES2018

CES ®2018 - Ms Career Girl In Las Vegas #CES2018 Unless youve been in a coma or on an extended wilderness trip, its been impossible to miss the trends in technology of late.   Three words sum it up: Smart, connected, and wireless.   There seems to be a quickening march away from all things that cannot talk to you or for you.   And nowhere is that more evident than at  CES ® currently in full swing in Las Vegas, Nevada. 4,000 Exhibitors, 4 Days With approximately 170,000 attendees,  CES ® is the largest event of its kind in the world.   And, its not even open to the public, mind you.   That C stands for Consumer, so of course its keyed to all things that entrepreneurs from around the globe believe will be the next big thing.   Or, at least a gotta-have-it for for us who are forever fascinated with technology. I case youre wondering how you navigate through all that, its simple.   Comfy shoes and coffee.   LOTS of coffee. And if you cannot quite imagine what it looks like, heres a a couple of telling shots taken Day One. Whats Hot Ask someone what their favorite gadget or budget-busting toy is and youll get as many answers as there are shuttle buses running between the  CES ® venues.   For me, three things caught my eye today.    The admonition to Turn up the whoa! was in full force.    But keep in mind its only day one, and theres a lot of ground yet to cover. Here they are, a little bit of what we do most: Eat, sleep, and drive. The Smart Bed Has Arrived Reverie premiered a truly amazing bed that goes so far beyond anything else out there, it easily qualified for one of my whoa moments.    No more hunting for the bed that is just right, because this one accommodates whatever you need to be comfortable all night long.   It accomplishes its task by Voice Command and Dynamic Comfort.   Pressure mapping technology recommends micro-targeted support. Temperature adjustment to keep your tootsies warm all night long. Zonal sound, separate for each you and your partner Brain-wave monitoring to assist in accurate sleep monitoring. The only downside I could see to this is not being able to sleep anywhere but my own bed. The Smart Range Since Im not really very fond of the kitchen, this was interesting right out of the gate.   No more wondering about the correct way to cook your packaged food item.   Just scan the barcode and the range, by Whirlpool, downloads all the correct settings, including required temperature adjustments.   Its also capable of accessing an online database of recipes. My only question:   When will there be an optional robotic cook available? And Down The Road You Go Youre up, youve eaten, and now youre out the door and on your way to the office.   Of course, youre all about green energy and efficiency, so your car should be electric.   We all know about Tesla and many of the other major auto manufacturers making strides into all-electric cars.   But if youre going to do it, why not go in real style? Genovation is producing a limited edition Corvette thats all electric.   Top speed:   220 mph.   Zero to 60 mph: under 3 seconds. Anyone out there whose feeling especially generous, my birthday would be a perfect time to experience the joy of giving this little gift of speed.   Hint, hint. More To Come . . . Well check in again later in the week, after wandering more of the halls of  CES ®. #CES2018

Strategically Play Small to Win Big - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Strategically Play Small to Win Big - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Play small to win big appears to go against all conventional wisdom. But when you add the word “strategically” it’s an entirely new ballgame. Streamlined business provides the entrepreneur with a greatly improved outlook. A short retrospective compared to where you are headed will provide insight as to your next best steps to further developing business. Technology Years ago, computers filled an entire corporate office producing very little function as compared with today’s desktop computers. Further advancement in technology moved us to laptops, iPads and from large to small mobile phones. In instances where apps are used on the phone, increased time efficiencies may be found as opposed to using the desktop computer landing you bigger results. Communication Likewise, communication techniques among younger generations are becoming abbreviated and less time consuming. In business we used to send long formal letters to our intended clientele. The verbiage was later reduced to email. Today, in many cases, texting with abbreviation is an acceptable format. The journey in communication continues. Entrepreneurs first learned of distributing newsletters. From there we moved to articles, blogs, postings, podcasts, tweets, instant messaging, video, pictures, and instagrams. Linking these formats on social media sites drives communication quicker and further than ever. Strategy of usage Desiring to further develop business and increase your clientele, it’s very wise to research what each methodology has to offer and apply the better-matched ones to your business. Understand, it’s not only about which you prefer, but more importantly, the emphasis should be on what your desired clientele prefers. Communicating in your prospect’s preferred style is essential for establishing relationships and conveying you will be easy to work with. This is the point that firmly embeds both trust in you and your personal brand landing you larger and additional sales. The more diverse you become in how you communicate, the more you will enjoy offers of collaboration and opportunity. On another level, strategically playing small may also refer to remaining humble about your accomplishments. When you move ego aside, you become more adept at listening and learning from others. In turn, you are provided with a much wider perspective. As you are able to take in additional thought and convert it to better position your products and services, you will again more adeptly communicate with a wider variety of people. Likewise, strangers will find and buy from you because you have made yourself approachable. Consider your nimble meter rating for adapting to new thought and methods for conducting business. For example, “repurpose” is a word frequently heard when speaking of converting older materials to new. “Charlie” was proud of his new service and had me take a look at his descriptive web page. While the writing was excellent, I questioned the picturing of CDs that represented the previous century. He quickly changed the image to a current graphic. Entrepreneurship is a commitment to continued education, implementation of new thought, and calculated risk taking. It is the challenge of the unknown that makes it an exciting ride and leads you to the Smooth Sale!

Writing a Resume - How to Write Using Blank Verbs

Writing a Resume - How to Write Using Blank VerbsWhen writing a resume, you should always use the 'blank' verbs. You should always avoid using any 'hard'professional' words, and you should always use more blank spaces on your resume. This article will give you the best information you need about using this trick, and what you should avoid doing.Writing a resume can be quite a challenge for most people. A lot of the time, you will find yourself having to use several different vocabularies to describe a job you have done. The best way to make your resume look professional is to use the blank 'blank' verbs.Writing a resume should always start with a good introductory paragraph. A very important part of this paragraph is to tell your readers where you were hired. For instance, if you were hired as a customer service representative, you would write something like this:I am an Experienced Customer Service Representative. I am passionate about helping others and will work hard to build rela tionships with my customers. My biggest desire is to help each customer feel valued and heard. I strive to provide high quality customer service.By using this paragraph, it will show that you are a satisfied customer service representative, and it will also show the reader that you are a high-quality person. There will be many people who will read your resume and decide that they need to hire you, so by the end of your introduction paragraph, they will have made a positive impression of you. Using blank verbs and using 'blank' spaces are a good combination.When you continue your introduction paragraphs, you should always use blank words. It is important to make a connection between you and your readers, and to show them that you are someone they can relate to. You should not talk too much in your resumes. It is usually better to have shorter paragraphs rather than long paragraphs.When you write the opening sentence of your resume, you should include all of the facts about you, but y ou should not forget to use the 'blank' words. You should not use 'He/She'It's/His/Her'. The next paragraphs should be used to list the accomplishments that you have had in your previous positions.If you want to impress the reader, you should always use 'blank' verbs when writing a resume. This trick will help you create a professional resume that stands out above all of the other thousands of others out there.

Foundation Programme Application Situational Judgement (FPAS SJT)

Foundation Programme Application Situational Judgement (FPAS SJT) If you are looking to apply for a training position in a hospital, then the FPAS SJT is a great way to go about doing so. However, it’s also extremely tough to pass! In this blog, we’ll give you a full breakdown of exactly what the FPAS SJT is, and how it works.What is FPAS?FPAS stands for Foundation Programme Application System. This is an online system used within the UK, to help final year medical students apply for training positions. The FPAS is run by the UK Foundation Programme Office. To gain a place with the Foundation Programme, you will first need to complete an application form, which is done online. In this form, you will need to answer a number of mandatory application form sections. There are 10 sections in total, in which you will need to fill in details about your personal information, qualifications, education, references and preferences.Assuming you meet the required entry standards, you will then be eligible to sit the Situational Judgement Test.FPAS SJTSituat ional judgement is a common form of assessment. It is used by many employers these days, to ascertain whether a potential employee is the right fit for their organisation. Situational judgement tests will evaluate your decision making, and allow potential employers to see whether your code of ethics and values match up with theirs. The majority of situational judgement tests do not have right or wrong answers, and simply come down to how an employer assesses the answers of the candidate against their own behavioural/organisational expectations. However, the FPAS SJT does have right and wrong answers, along with a specific mark scheme.The FPAS Situational Judgement Test (FPAS SJT) will provide you with medical based scenarios. These questions will focus around testing your medical principles and ethics, and focus on qualities such professionalism, bedside manner, teamwork and your ability to cope whilst under pressure. You will not need a sustained level of clinical knowledge to comp lete these questions. In order to find out what date the test will be run on, for the year that you are applying, you should speak directly to your medical school, or contact the UK Foundation Progamme themselves. They will also be able to provide you with advice on how to book your test.FPAS SJT QuestionsIn total, there are 70 questions in the examination, and you will be given 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete the exam. The test is scored out of 50.00, and the majority of candidates will score between 20.01 and 50.00.The exam is split into two sections:Section 1. In this section, you will be provided with a medical scenario, and 5 answer options. Your job is to rank these answer options, with 1 being the most appropriate and 5 being the least appropriate. There is a total score of 20 available for each question, with each correct ranking being scored 4 points, and 3 if you score one answer lower by one (for example, if you put option A as 2, when it should have been 1). The furth er off you are on each option, the lower you will score. This is one of the things that makes the test so challenging. If you rank one answer option wrong, then you’ll get another one wrong too, and therefore one wrong answer can snowball and greatly impact the rest of your marks for that question. Section 1 accounts for approximately 2/3rds of the entire test.Section 2. In this section, the questions are slightly different. Once again you will be given a medical scenario, but now you will be given 8 answer options. Your job is to choose the best 3 answers. There is a total of 12 marks per question here, with each correct answer being worth 4 marks.How to AnswerIn this section, we’ll give you some basic tips on things to consider when answering the questions, which should helpfully make your life much easier.The central aim of the FPAS SJT is to establish whether you have the decision making skills to work within a hospital, and whether your ethics and principles are in line wit h what would be expected. When ranking the answers from 1-5, you’ll need to take into account a range of factors, including medical ethics, professionalism and consent. Each question will present you with different things to assess and consider, before coming to a decision. For this reason, it can be hard to establish a precise system for weighing up the value of answer options. In some questions, you might be presented with 4 awful options and just 1 good option, and you’ll then need to assess which of the bad options is ‘the least bad’. Similarly, you might be given 4 great options and 1 terrible option â€" again you would need to assess which of the good options is the best. Sometimes, placing the top and bottom answer is easy, but ordering the answers in the middle can prove to be quite tricky. With this in mind, here are some guidelines on how to go about breaking down difficult scenarios:1. Is the patient safe, or will this harm them? Patient safety should always be yo ur number one priority. If you are making a decision that will impact upon a patient, then you should make the decision with the intention of benefitting their care. If you feel that one of the answer options will harm or negatively impact the patient, then this should go (at the very least) near the bottom of your answer order. There will be a number of questions focusing around topics such as confidentiality, and respecting patient decisions.2. Try and think about the wider implications of each decision. For example, if you have a patient thrown out by security, then how is this going to impact them, how is it going to impact the hospital, and how is it going to impact you?3. Think about how your decision could impact the behaviour and feelings of your colleagues, if appropriate. Could this upset those around you? Could it have a negative impact on them? It’s important that you can demonstrate good teamwork, and be a supportive outlet for your colleagues.4. Consider your level o f expertise when working as a junior doctor. Are you qualified to make this decision, or would it better to consult someone more senior? The assessors want to be able to see that you have the wisdom and foresight to understand your own limitations, and not to try and take on tasks that you aren’t prepared or ready for. Try and be pragmatic. Think about whether the action that the answer option is demanding is realistic and possible at that time.When answering the second part of the test, you should take a similar approach. In this test, you won’t need to rank the options, but you will still need to provide the three best responses â€" and the above framework should help you to do this.It’s extremely important, when taking the FPAS SJT, that you answer the questions based on established medical ethics, and the guidelines laid out by the General Medical Council (GMC). You can read all about these principles via the foundation programme page.Along with this, you are also expected to have some knowledge of medical law, and essential criteria that you would use when making decisions, such as the mental health act and the mental capacity act. Again, the above link should provide you with sustained information about all of these factors. This entry was posted in Assessment Centres. Bookmark the permalink. 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How to Avoid the Top 5 Public Speaking Mistakes - Kathy Caprino

How to Avoid the Top 5 Public Speaking Mistakes On Wednesday, I posted an article on my Forbes blog Image by Daehyun Park via Flickr called: Why So Many Experts Are Terrible Speakers: Top 5 Public Speaking Mistakes. I was as suprised as anyone when this piece went viral.   Over 110,000 folks viewed the article piece as of this morning (it was one of the top three most popular pieces on Forbes the day it was published!), and thousands shared it on their social networks.   Clearly this topic touched a nerve.   My guess is that thousands of folks have attended live and online conferences and workshops this past year, and have been as astounded as I about the lack of ability of the speaker to connect, enliven, motivate and educate us, or to leave us with anything lasting or meaningful.   Its a great disappointment when you plunk down your hard-earned money to learn something new from an expert and to be inspired, only to leave feeling deflated and let down. As a frequent speaker at live and online conferences, I’m in the company of hundreds of folks each year who are top authors, experts and consultants.   In many cases, these are great thought leaders who perform public speaking as just one aspect of their professional endeavors.     In attending these programs, I’m continually shocked at how many content experts are, in fact, wholly ineffective speakers . My colleague, Krista Carnes, Founder of Booking Authors a consulting firm that helps experts and authors connect with new opportunities and audiences, and a member of the Maestro Market start up team â€" shared this: “One big mistake I find is the incorrect assumption that speaking at a “big name” event or two is the only way to get attention. There are no “small” events when you’re starting out.   Most people, no matter how much passion they have, are simply not ready to get in front of large audiences. In striving for those large opportunities only, many overlook exciting, creative ways to engage with their communities and tribes â€" ways that nurture the development of presentation skills and personal presence that are crucial in today’s digitally-driven age.” Observing amazing speakers who move and motivate us (watch some TED Talks for inspiring examples), and comparing them to ineffective speakers, I’ve observed five core behaviors that keep speakers from achieving their key goals â€" to motivate, enliven, inform and educate.    Below are the top five mistakes content experts often make as speakers when trying to engage audiences, stimulate crowds, and connect deeply with others.   I’ve made some of these mistakes myself, and have lived the experience of losing an audience.   None of us are born astounding speakers, and there’s always more to learn, but the first step is to acknowledge your own gaps. TOP 5 PUBLIC SPEAKING MISTAKES â€" FAILING TO 1.  Meet the Audience Where They Are First and foremost, speakers must remember that their deep knowledge about a topic isn’t (usually)shared by the audience.   Listeners aren’t in the same place you are â€" they haven’t spent years studying this area, researching it, living it.   It’s new to them.   So you must meet your audience where they are, finding a way to hook them in.   Then take them on a stimulating journey of initial discovery through full-out engagement so that your key points can be understood and embraced.     Assuming that they know what you know, or care in the way you care, is a mistake.   You have to generate a significant level of interest from the beginning, and pique that interest continually throughout your presentation. 2.  Make a Heartfelt Human Connection In the past few weeks, I’ve been a part of a number of national events that highlight speakers who are at the top of their fields.   I’ve seen evidence that being a nationally-recognized guru doesn’t mean you have any degree of social or emotional intelligence.   I’m finding that numbers of these experts simply fail to engage us on an emotional, heartfelt level â€" they don’t connect in a personal way, or give the sense that they truly care a whit about the audience and its ability to productively use the vast information they know and share.   In the end, their lack of a human connection makes their presentations feel overwhelming and unsettlingâ€" they push us away with all data, facts and statistics, and no heart and soul. They’re simply not likable. 3.    Show Respect for the Listener Again, I’ve seen scores of speakers alienate an audience by expressing disdain or criticism for some common behavior or thinking.   For example, if you’re speaking to social media novices about what they need to do to get up to speed in the social media arena, you must understand that many folks are afraid and insecure about taking the plunge, and you need to be gentle with them, not judgmental, critical or flip.   In the end, if you hate or disrespect your listeners for their lack of savvy in your area of expertise, they’ll hate you back.  And if you leave your audience feeling that they are losers, failures or unworthy of your respect, then you’ll achieve the opposite of your desired effect â€" you’ll bruise their sense of self-worth and create a huge rift between you and your audience.You’ll lose them forever. 4.    Inspire Follow-Up Thinking/ Action It’s not enough to present information without inspiring people to follow up with new action or thinking.   Your words and messages simply won’t last in the minds of the audience members if you don’t motivate your listeners to DO something different with what you’ve just shared and taught.   Think about how you can connect and engage with your audience after your talk, and help them on a path of thinking or behaving differently, making use of your information in ways that better their lives.   If you don’t, you’ve missed a key outcome of serving as a speaker/presenter â€" to inspire positive action. 5.    Leave a Lasting Message of Significance Finally, with the millions of webcasts, seminars, workshops and talks available today to us â€"either in person or online your talk will not stand out or be effective if you don’t leave the audience with a clear message of significance â€" something lasting, meaningful, and impactful.   If you’re simply sharing dry information, but don’t touch on the vital “essence” of your material (the living, breathing heart of what you care about and why we should care), you’ll fail as a speaker. In the end, it’s not easy to be a compelling speaker or presenter, and deep knowledge of a topic doesn’t necessarily contribute to your ability to reach people.   But addressing these mistakes will help you communicate in ways that make you the speaker that people ask for most and remember best. Id love to hear your thoughts What is your deepest public speaking challenge and how are you overcoming it?   Thanks for sharing.