Page 229 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

216B RE-ENGAGE

— Invite and encourage employees to propose and create new jobs within
the company that fill unmet needs and that allow them to make better
use of their talents.
— When employees become disengaged (bored, restless, or stuck), find
ways to help them grow in place and increase job challenge.

— Provide prospective recruits and new hires with a vision of realistic po-
tential career paths and opportunities.

— Offer self-assessment and career self-management workshops to help
employees take more control of their own career and professional growth
and formulate both short- and long-term goals.
— Hire on-staff or consulting “coaches” to provide confidential career ad-
vice to current employees.
— Create and communicate competency definitions for all jobs (or projects
as they change) so employees will know exactly what skills and strengths
they need to have or develop.

— Create an internal online site where employees can “test” themselves to
see how their current competencies stack up to those listed for various
positions, including recommended learning activities to close compe-
tency gaps.
— Offer a wide range of job-specific and more general learning opportu-
nities, including e-learning, podcasts, wikis, and other nonclassroom
methods.

— Provide cross-training in various jobs, functions, and technologies.
— Create alternative career path progressions to provide for those demon-
strating technical excellence and not aspiring to general management.
— Grow the business! Nothing works better to provide more career growth
opportunities.
— Expand tuition reimbursement offerings.
— Have employees complete individual development plans and keep them
updated through discussions with their managers.

— Train managers in career coaching and mentoring.
— Recognize and reward managers who coach and develop their direct re-
ports and allow them to move on to meet the growth needs of the em-
ployee and the business needs of the organization.
— Encourage and facilitate lateral movement across functional areas.