Putting the human back into human resources | Mary Schaefer | TEDxWilmington

Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of putting 'human' back into Human Resources by addressing employees' deeper needs, such as appreciation, belonging, and meaningful contribution. They contrast treating employees 'humanly'—meeting these emotional needs—with merely treating them 'humanely' by providing basic necessities. The speaker shares a personal story of how belief in employees' potential led to their career advancement, emphasizing that fulfilling human needs leads to higher engagement and profitability. The speech encourages listeners to take responsibility for honoring others' worth at work and highlights the positive impact of such actions.

Takeaways

• 😊 The speaker emphasizes the importance of putting the 'human' back into Human Resources by addressing employees' human needs.
• 🤔 Treating employees 'humanly' means recognizing their need for appreciation, belonging, and making a meaningful contribution, beyond just basic necessities like bathroom breaks.
• 👍 The speaker shares a personal story of helping shop floor employees grow in their careers, which highlights the power of believing in people and supporting their development.
• 📈 Three out of four employees who were supported by the speaker in their career advancement ended up in higher positions, showing that with belief and guidance, people can rise to the occasion.
• 📊 The speaker references Gallup's 2013 report, which shows that 70% of the American workforce is disengaged, with 20% actively disengaged, indicating a widespread issue of unmet employee needs.
• 💡 The speaker questions why organizations fail to meet employee needs when they wouldn't neglect essential maintenance for other assets, like cars.
• 🏆 Research shows that higher employee engagement, driven by meeting human needs, is linked to increased profitability and business success.
• 💰 Poor management and lack of employee engagement cost organizations between $450 billion to $550 billion annually in lost productivity, according to Gallup.
• 🌟 The speaker encourages individuals, regardless of their position, to make a difference by acknowledging and valuing others in the workplace.
• 🙏 The overall message is to take responsibility for treating people with respect and appreciation, creating a positive impact through small but meaningful actions.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main message in this talk?

The speaker's main message is to encourage organizations to infuse more humanity into the workplace by addressing employees' human needs, such as appreciation, belonging, and making a meaningful contribution, rather than just treating them humanely.

How does the speaker differentiate between 'humanely' and 'humanly'?

The speaker explains that treating employees 'humanely' refers to providing basic needs like bathroom breaks and water fountains, while treating them 'humanly' addresses deeper emotional and psychological needs such as feeling appreciated, belonging, and making meaningful contributions.

What example does the speaker use to demonstrate the impact of treating employees 'humanly'?

The speaker shares a story about working at a chemical plant where they helped a shop floor employee develop skills to advance in his career. This led to three out of four team members being promoted, showing the positive impact of believing in employees' potential.

What problem in the workforce does the speaker highlight using Gallup's research?

The speaker highlights that 70% of the American workforce is disengaged, with 20% being actively disengaged, indicating that many employees' human needs are not being met in the workplace.

What is the correlation between meeting employees' human needs and business performance?

Research shows that when employees' human needs are met, their engagement increases, which has been positively correlated with higher profitability for businesses.

How does the speaker compare the treatment of human resources to other assets like cars?

The speaker draws a comparison by stating that just as one wouldn’t neglect the maintenance needs of a car, organizations shouldn’t ignore the human needs of their employees, as doing so can negatively impact performance.

What staggering statistic does the speaker mention about the cost of disengagement?

The speaker mentions that unskilled and unqualified managers impact organizations by costing $450 to $550 billion in lost productivity annually due to undermining employee engagement.

How does the speaker suggest individual listeners can make a difference, even if they are not in leadership roles?

The speaker encourages listeners to take personal responsibility in honoring others' worth at work by making small but meaningful gestures, such as showing appreciation and making others feel seen and valued.

What emotional needs does the speaker identify as critical for employees?

The speaker identifies the need to be appreciated, the need to belong, and the need to feel like one is making a meaningful contribution as critical emotional needs for employees.

What is the overall tone of the speaker's message?

The overall tone of the speaker's message is motivational and empathetic, emphasizing the importance of human connection and the positive impact it can have on both individuals and organizational performance.