Best Companies quarterly Live events are always such a good watch.
C-suite leaders openly share the initiatives and strategies that work so well for them, across such a wide range of organisation types.
They’re not ‘Best Companies to Work For’ for nothing so it’s not BS. It’s for real.
The next few blogs summarise my key takeaways from the Q1 24 ‘red chair’ sessions, hosted this time by BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent.
Session #1 – How do you build world class teams?
Stockport Homes Group
“One team. Transforming lives.” Such a bold mission statement. It’s used by everyone in the organisation to guide any decisions.
Their CEO Helen Mchale has only missed one staff induction in 18 years, such is the importance she attaches to their people knowing they can access her.
Hickory’s Smokehouse
When recruiting, MD John Welsh revealed that they observe how the interviewee reacts to everyone on their way to the actual interview. Other staff are asked for their feedback.
Cultural fit is more important than the CV.
With over 2000 team members (John didn’t refer to them as staff or employees) he admitted that like any family there’s bound to some disharmony at times. The moral compass is key and Hickory’s have their 5-star values as a reference point to right and wrong. It’s OK to break the rules occasionally!
Inspired Villages
Since People & Culture Director Lawrence Cramer joined 7 years ago their headcount has grown from 25 to 370!
When they bought 4 other villages one year after setting up they met every acquired member 1:1 of staff via a roadshow and repeated the process 6 months later.
They adopt ‘the ABC approach’ to recruitment:
Attitude
Behaviours
Commitment
No psychometrics – believes they are purely a snapshot in time. As at Hickory’s it’s the person not their qualifications that’s important.
Transparency with no waffle is paramount eg. CEO shares all the company’s figures quarterly.
Leaders take time for ‘cuppa’ moments with people.
It all works since they have 95% response rate to their employee engagement surveys!
Mears Group PLC
It’s normally hard to retain people in the social housing and care sector, yet they’ve decreased turnover from 23% to 17% as a result of going through the Best Companies process.
Group HRD Jo Fry cited listening and showing empathy as paramount. Letting people have their own voice. Find out what they’re *not* saying.
They have ‘toolbox talks’ with the 80% of their workforce who are mainly on the road with often challenging jobs.
Next week: more on the same topic of ‘growing world class teams’ – this time from some of the ‘red chair alumni’ in the live audience.
Image: seated in the studio of MediaCityUK are L to R: John Welsh, MD Hickory’s Smokehouse; Helen McHale, CEO of Stockport Homes Group; Sally Nugent, BBC Breakfast presenter & host; Jo Fry, Group HR Director of Mears; Lawrence Cramer, People & Culture Director of Inspired Villages.
