Closing the Engagement Gap: How Great Companies Unlock Employee Potential for Superior Results - Hardcover

Gebauer, Julie; Lowman, Don

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1591842387 ISBN 13: 9781591842385

Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover, 2008

Synopsis

Expert advice and examples show how managers can inspire high levels of commitment

When people are truly engaged in their work they give more discretionary effort” and make a huge difference to their company. They ask, What’s in it for us?” instead of What’s in it for me?” Yet an engaged workforce is as rare as it is valuable. A groundbreaking global study, led by Julie Gebauer and Don Lowman of Towers Perrin, shows that most people are not engaged and don’t contribute as much value as they could. Not because they’re inherently lazy or apathetic, but because their companies and managers don’t know how to draw out the best from them. For instance, while pay and benefits are critical in attracting talent to a company, they have little effect on engagement. Instead, there are five proven ways to engage employees, including:

• Grow them by helping them develop skills and Knowledge
• Involve them by asking for input and delegating Authority
• Reward them with recognition and advancement Opportunities

Using real world examples, the authors show that consistently better engagement really is possible and can deliver a huge impact to the bottom line.

About this title

About the Author

Julie Gebauer is the managing director of Tower Perrin's organizational research and workforce effectiveness practices.
 
Don Lowman is a member of the firm's executive council and board of directors, and is managing director of strategic growth. Towers Perrin, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is a global professional services firm that has more than 6,000 employees and serves about 700 of the Fortune 1000 companies.
 
Joanne Gordon is a veteran business journalist.

From Publishers Weekly

Gebauer and Lowman, of the professional services firm Towers Perrin, explore the benefits companies reap when they engage their employees. The authors argue that the most important thing an organization can do is successfully unleash employees full potential, yet most employers fail to do so; four out of five workers worldwide are not delivering all of their abilities. Based on exhaustive research of global data, Gebauer and Lowman show that engaged employees connect with a company at three levels—the rational, emotional and motivational—and these connections result in a willingness to surpass expectations. They also explore what drives employee engagement and how to convert the enrolled and enlist the disenchanted. With fresh examples from Campbell Soup, Honeywell International and MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the authors provide tools organizations can utilize. This timely and convincing argument breaks new ground and is a must-read for the HR department, managers and executives at every level. (Jan.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1591842387
• ISBN 13: 9781591842385
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288