“We use a two-pronged approach
to seek out interest and if the potential
candidate seems like a good fit, the next
steps would include an in-person inter-view,”
said Dianna Hemphill-O’Byrne,
communications specialist for PCL.
3. Be process-centric,
not hero-centric
The more your processes are document-ed
and employees are trained on those
processes, the less risk there is to the
organization when a key person leaves.
Employees can then easily step in and
fill the void.
“When a company revolves around
a handful of heroes, it can be demoral-izing
for the people who are not one of
those heroes,” said Levin.
4. Check in with employees
at all levels
It’s important to know what’s happening
throughout all levels of the company.
“If you’re only talking with other
C-level executives, you can be blind-ed,”
said Levin. She views companies
as puzzles.
“When one puzzle piece is miss-ing,
the puzzle is still incomplete,”
L E A D E R S H I P
“When a company revolves
around a handful of heroes,
it can be demoralizing for
the people who are not
one of those heroes.”
– Marissa Levin, Successful Culture International
said Levin. “Everybody matters and
everyone sees the company from their
own perspective.”
Leaders need to understand what
motivates everyone in the organization.
5. Lose the hierarchy
Levin believes that the idea of coming in
and paying your dues before you speak
up is an antiquated view.
“From the day they start on the
job, you should give employees an
opportunity to be valuable,” said Levin.
“Creating cultures of mentorship
rather than a strict hierarchy is really
important.” Encourage communication
and collaboration.
At employee-owned PCL
Construction, all salaried employees are
eligible to become shareholders, and
more than 90 per cent choose the option.
“Employee-ownership is consistently
ranked as a top differentiator for us
among our competitors,” said Hemphill-
O’Byrne. Employee-ownership provides
a sense of belonging and an understand-ing
that people at all levels contribute to
success. According to FORTUNE maga-zine,
dividends for long-term employees
often exceed their annual salaries. n
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