This may be a leap, but I’m going to assume in this edition of HR Elevated that we are on the same page with regards to three points. First, our working definition of optimization – to make as effective, perfect or useful as possible or to make the best of. Second, our goal is to optimize our organizations. This means that in for-profit organizations we are striving to maximize shareholder value in both the short and long term. Third, organizational optimization is a function of people optimization. (See my last blog post.) Running with my initial assumption, let’s discuss an approach to optimizing our people.
The People Optimization Model is borrowed from the great research and writings of David Ulrich and the lessons learned from many attempts to apply his teachings. I must acknowledge that some attempts failed and a few succeeded. The failures are not a reflection on Dr. Ulrich’s work, just my poor understanding or execution. The model focuses on four simple, yet very encompassing, stages of human engagement – recruitment, development, challenge and reinforcement.
I’m sure it’s no surprise that it all starts with recruitment. It’s about getting the right people in the organization and in the most suited roles. The key is beginning with the end in mind. In other words, defining the performance and behavior results or contribution we need from that person and the role they will fulfill. From this, we can more accurately identify the attitude, effort, activity, knowledge, skills and experiences that most effectively drive those results.
Once we have the best people in the organization, we need to continue to support their development. Experience has taught me that the best approach for effective development is the method successfully used by apprenticeships for over 100+ years. Apprenticeships combine self-study, instruction, lab-type practice and on-the-job training (OJT), with the strongest emphasis (to the tune of 70%+) being on OJT followed by lab-type practice. This method addresses all learning styles with a very definite bias toward learning by doing, under close observation and mentoring of an experienced journeyman or master craftsman (subject matter expert). Utilization of on-demand learning technologies helps facilitate the integration of the self-study and instruction stages into the practice and OJT.
One of the benefits of the apprenticeship approach to development is that it inherently incorporates challenge as part of the development. Only when an individual is challenged to apply the new knowledge and skill does it anchor in and become part of their competency toolkit and personal growth. The more we use, challenge and stretch our knowledge and skills, the more confident and capable we become. We also become prepared to share it with others and to take the next step in our development.
Last but not least is reinforcement, which includes recognition and rewards. It is very common for us, as humans and members of the animal kingdom, to be drawn toward those activities for which we are reinforced through recognition and reward. When a particular action or behavior is reinforced, we tend to repeat it if we feel the level of the recognition or reward matches the energy we have expended. As leaders, effective reinforcement requires that we know our people as individuals and understand what forms of recognition and reward provide the best reinforcement for each person.
At England Logistics, there is nothing more rewarding, personally and organizationally, than observing the actions of a truly optimized person. How are you optimizing your people?
– Wayne Davis, VP of Talent Development
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As a Talent Management/HR executive with over 20 years of talent and human resource management experience, I strive to deliver value generating services to internal and external clients. This has provided me with the ability to lead or influence people in developing solutions to achieve higher levels of measurable success. My professional interests are targeted toward helping clients achieve their optimum performance through people solutions.