Balancing Influences on Employees

It’s no surprise that there would be similarities between companies within the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For as they established themselves among this list for a reason. However, it’s interesting to see that there can be common themes in HR practice among vastly different fields of work. I chose to look into four different companies among this list, Kimpton Hotels and restaurants, Capital One, KPMG LLP, and Accenture. Analyzing comments by employees and additional information provided by the website I found that these companies chose to structure their businesses around empowering their employees and embracing their individualism as a strength (see Appendix for employee comments). Focusing more on what your employees can do instead of their weaknesses allows each individual to maximize their potential and productivity for the company. 

I’d like to be a manager that other employees enjoy conversing with, a manager who is very open minded and embraces the strengths of the employees that I work with. I think it would be very beneficial to be a manager who can determine opportune times for employee empowerment and employee guidance. In the article How Google Sold Its Engineers on Management by David A. Gavin, they emphasized or at least showcased one of the key things Google managers do, which was being able to empower the team and not micromanage. I found this point quite compelling because not only does it increase effectiveness and efficiency within the business but it makes you more enjoyable to work with.

After reading the first chapter of First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, I felt that the most challenging part of a manager’s job is battling the contradictory or being able to identify and pursue the silver lining within managing or influencing the employees you oversee. In the second to last paragraph of this chapter the authors outline the struggle of these apparent contradictions that arise when you are in pursuit of “5’s” to all the presented questions throughout the chapter. 

References 

Buckingham, M., & Coffman, C. (2001). First, break
all the rules: What the world’s greatest managers do differently. Simon
& Schuster.

Fortune 100 best companies to work for® 2020. Great
Place To Work®. (2020).
https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/100-best/2020

Gavin, D. A. (2013, December). Review of How Google sold
its engineers on management. Harvard Business Review, 74–82.

Appendix 

What employees are saying about their companies 
Kimpton Hotels and restaurants 

“A great, inclusive and diverse culture. Always seeking ways to improve and develop new efficient ways of doing things. No such thing as a bad idea here. Hard work is noticed and praised. I can be myself and am encouraged to be myself.”

Capital one 

“I love that the company allows individuals to be exactly that: individuals. We are free to express ourselves in unique ways and are not expected to conform to any specific standard.”

KPMG LLP

“It is a diverse company that allows thoughts and ideas to be shared by everyone. Every voice is heard and given appropriate consideration when tackling issues as a team.”

Accenture 

“We are setting a public example for how corporations should embrace diversity, very inclusive of all races, genders/sexual preferences, and disability. All of us are encouraged to give back to the community.”