1st Edition
The Culture Builders Leadership Strategies for Employee Performance
As with many people-oriented initiatives, employee engagement remains an emerging science with as many advocates as detractors. In The Culture Builders Jane Sparrow shares the insight of her research and experience into how companies are creating an engaged workforce. Along the way she looks at the evidence, the case for engagement and how organizations are measuring and defining it. Having an engagement strategy is merely a first step and so the book explores how to enable the manager-as-engager. Alongside the practical models and the guidance, there are stories and examples from leaders and organizations allowing you to learn, amongst other things, about the strong sense of purpose felt in John Lewis Partnership; the importance Innocence places on values; how Sony has used visual metaphors to give context and strategic direction and how MGM Resorts targets engagement strategies to the needs of specific employee groups. The need for sustained employee performance has been put into sharp focus in recent years. The Culture Builders is a book that provides the theory and practice to connect employee engagement to long-term performance. Simply reading it won’t guarantee that performance. Reading it, learning and applying the lessons it offers, will dramatically improve your chances.
Biography
Jane Sparrow began her career in IBM and has held a variety of senior positions in organizations such as Sony Europe, The Energy Project, and MCA (now part of the WPP Group). As Director of Communication and Change for Sony Europe she instigated a new culture of communication, involvement and personal growth through coaching members of the board to engage, motivate their people and sustain high performance. Jane is an active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the past Programme Chair for the IABC Global Conference in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Jane is a co-author of the IABC Handbook of Organisational Communication and she publishes frequent articles in a variety of journals and publications and has been rated an 'All Star Speaker' by the attendees at the IABC World Conference.
'It is easy to forget the "people" element in challenging times with sights focused solely on hitting targets. Yet a sound employee engagement strategy enables an organisation to retain its top talent and reap the benefits of a loyal workforce committed to the future success of the business. The Culture Builders is a practical guide to support you to achieve these aims, and is written with clear passion, sharing many inspiring examples of best practice.' David Williams, CEO Impact International, (A Sunday Times Best Small Company to Work For since 2005) 'Jane brings her considerable knowledge of what motivates and engages people into this book. It just oozes with story after story of her and others' practical experiences to be a "must read" for any manager serious about this topic.' Russell Grossman, Director of Communications, Department of Business, Skills and Innovation, UK ’A great insight into experiential leadership rather than management theory. One to share.’ Sue O’Brien, CEO, Norman Broadbent ’The Culture Builders is packed with inspirational stories and practical, hands-on advice to help business leaders and managers deliver performance through people. No high-performing leader can afford to miss it.' Sherri Nadeau, SVP, Human Resources, Shopzilla ’The Culture Builders is a great place to go whenever you face a challenge getting partners, clients or employees engaged in supporting strategic objectives. This book offers a wealth of ideas about the communication styles, and associated practical steps, that can help you bring about positive change in individuals, teams and whole organisations.’ Ezri Carlebach FRSA, Deputy Director of Communication and External Affairs, University of the Arts London, UK ’Jane Sparrow has been lucky enough to work with and for some outstanding leaders. She brings this experience, together with her wider research, in to a readable and compelling narrative that simply expands the theory and case for e
