HR professionals must act now to energise their staff

PA Consulting Group's book 'The zombie economy' examines the economic crisis and the impact it has had on four major economic groups - creating half dead, half alive zombies: banks, governments, companies and consumers. As a result, HR professionals (HRDs) must prepare for a new world in which their organisations will have to overcome the powerful force of these zombies.

To order your free copy of 'The zombie economy' please click here.

HRDs now need to plan for a different business landscape. Employees are feeling the effects of the zombie economy - salaries have been frozen, working hours reduced and the threat of redundancy has made staff feel expendable, creating a threatening negative energy within the workforce. HRDs must act now to assess the impact of the zombie economy on their organisation and they must focus on energising their staff to help overcome the threat of the zombie economy.

Securing your future in the zombie economy
With limited monetary incentives, prospects or development opportunities, many organisations will need to work hard to keep staff engaged. The winners in the zombie economy will be those who focus on energising their staff to ensure they have a well placed workforce for recovery. Four actions HRDs should consider taking are: 

1. Energising conversations – businesses must engage employees in conversations, about the business and their individual roles. Leaders and managers must speak honestly about future obstacles facing the company

2. Tackling shared challenges – invite employees to own the problem and develop the solution. Involving staff in problem solving will generate a sense of being valued, trusted and involved

3. Being part of a movement – identifying a common cause or community issue, which is operationally relevant to the organisation, to unify the workforce. This can reinvigorate and improve the way an organisation works

4. Transforming innovation and learning – build the skills and ingenuity needed in the workplace to survive and thrive in a zombie economy. Employees need to be engaged in finding new and better ways of doing things whether a process, structure, relationship, product or service.
   

To order a copy of 'The zombie economy' please click here.

To discuss how to steer your business successfully through the zombie economy please contact us now.