1. The Custommerce National Convention Marriott Jaipur 24 th January, 2014 CREATING AND SUSTAINING “ICONIC” PEOPLE NETWORK

2. What two aspects do you think are common between this combined List of US Based and Indian Organizations? US Based Organizations (some are also present in India) 1.Wegman Foods2. Publix Super Markets 3. Starbucks Coffee Company4. USAA 5.Four Seasons Hotels6. Marriott International 7.Rackspace Hosting8. Recreational Equipment Inc. 9.Nordstrom10. Zappos.com 11.FedEx12. Southwest Airlines 13. American Express14. Google Indian Companies 1.MakeMyTrip2. Blue Dart Express 3.NIIT4. IndiGo Airlines 5.The Oberoi Group 6. Taj Hotels, Resorts, Palaces 7.Classic Stripes 8. Godrej Consumer Products

3. The two aspects common between all these organizations are - They have won awards and repeatedly appeared on lists of companies whose products & services delight their Customers and They have repeatedly appeared either in Fortune Magazine’s annual lists of “100 Best Companies to Work For in the US” or in The Economic Times’ annual lists of “Best Companies to Work For in India” As organizations who attempt to and care for their Employees, thereby creating a strong sense of Trust, Pride and Camaraderie in them

4. They believe that there is not only a strong correlation, but causality between creating highly engaged, inspired and strongly networked workforce and delighted customers & superior organizational performance. Experience and belief of leaders, people managers and employees of “great workplaces” alike suggests that building and sustaining a great workplace for its employees is all important to delivering great customer service!!

5. Great Workplaces significantly outperform Market (Indices) by around 4 times, in terms of cumulative long term returns to investors (US Data)!!

6. Creating a Great Workplace has significant Shareholder Returns & Business Benefits … (India Data) 12

7. Even from a low starting point of not very trusting, proud and well bonded employees, the “journey to becoming a Great Workplace” can begin to yield all round results in a few years after purposeful efforts!! – Scripps Health

8. Why are highly engaged, inspired and networked employees the key? What are the ingredients of the recipe for caring for and delighting customers? 1.Service more often than not, involves interaction between people – the ones who seek service and the ones who provide it. 2.Seekers are seeking to fulfill substantive needs and emotional needs – only people can really fulfill both!! 3.Service seekers don’t always first encounter those who are qualified and tasked with providing service – their first point of contact could be anyone within the organization!! 4.Service experience is proximate in time and space. 5.Therefore, whoever the service provider on the spot must be: –Inspired & committed to serve the customer, –Capable & trained, and, –Resourced, networked & empowered to act in a suitable manner to serve the customers.

9. What is being “networked?’ Isn’t it the feeling of Trust, Pride & Camaraderie, that prompt employees to share information and work cooperatively towards a common goal? In such environment, employees are and feel: 1.Trusted and empowered, 2.Trained, supported and appreciated, 3.Involved in decision making, and, 4.Treated with respect and fairness This results in employees: 1.Feeling pride in their own work, their team and their organization, making them “ambassadors” of the organization 2.Being friendly towards and caring about each other 3.Believing they are all part of a cohesive “team or family” 4.Being happy to always extend the hand of cooperation, and, 5.Committed to sustained excellence and going the “extra mile” for customers of the organization

10. Great Place to Work® Engagement Model / Framework

11. Employees...have pride in what you do... Job...and enjoy the people you work with Other Employees Trust the people you work for... Management Relationships are the key….. A great place to work is one where you (employees) - 11 Trust is the Key Driver…

12. Employee... Encourage and enable employees to give their personal best at all times Job... and work together as a cohesive team/family Other Employees Align employees to achieve organization’s objectives Management in an environment of Trust….. Great workplace culture enables managers to

13. Essential elements / dimensions of a Great Place to Work® Individuality is valued Welcoming Atmosphere Part of something larger Individuality is valued Welcoming Atmosphere Part of something larger Two way Candid Communication Managers’ Competence Managers’ Competence Integrity – Reliability of Management Integrity – Reliability of Management Two way Candid Communication Managers’ Competence Managers’ Competence Integrity – Reliability of Management Integrity – Reliability of Management Professional Support Collaboration Demonstrated Caring Professional Support Collaboration Demonstrated Caring In Own Job About my Team In the Organization In Own Job About my Team In the Organization EquityImpartialityJusticeEquityImpartialityJustice TRUSTTRUSTCredibilityCredibility RespectRespect PridePride FairnessFairness CamaraderieCamaraderie

14. What do great “People Managers” do to build great workplaces? People managers at great workplaces consistently focus on 9 equally important areas of people practices 1.Hiring and Welcoming 2.Inspiring 3.Speaking 4.Listening & Collaborating (and addressing Grievances & Appeals) 5.Thanking (Appreciating & Recognizing) 6.Developing 7.Caring (Balancing, Supporting & Including) 8.Celebrating & Enjoying 9.Sharing (Rewarding their People & Contributing to Society)

15. How do People Practices impact employees positively? 1. Alignment to achieve organizational objectives 2. Employees give their personal best 3.Work together as a cohesive team/family Right practices of people managers enable them to achieve three key organizational objectives

16. How to become a great workplace?

17. Four Tiers of Effective Trust Building and Employee Engagement at Great Workplaces 4 levels of actions for employee engagement to build trust and drive attraction, learning, performance and retention Organization & Top Leadership - Inspiring, communicative, competent and demonstrate values and integrity Employee Fit - Talents, strengths, values, passionate interests, needs & aspirations match with roles, organizational values and offering Immediate Work Environment - People managers & peer group provide constructive feedback, positive reinforcement, learning, friendship, fun and camaraderie, which is highly engaging Effective People Practices - Equitable & impartial, caring & inclusive, respectful & supportive, created in a consultative & collaborative manner, which create a sense of community

18. Learning from Annual Studies – Aspects most positively correlated with Overall Employee Perception Aspects that are “statistically” best correlated with Overall Employee Perception (Final Outcome Statement) Important to employees - Possible “Drivers” of Retention!? 1.Fair evaluation of performance 2.Providing opportunities for career growth 3.Providing special and unique benefits 4.Thanking and appreciating extra efforts & good work 5.Showing sincere interest in employees, creating an emotionally healthy place 6.Treating employees as full members regardless of their position (egalitarian culture) 7.Creating a “fun and friendly place to work”

19. Learning from Research / Annual Studies - Seven Key Differentiators between the Best and Rest To become a great workplace, the following aspects seem to be critical, foundational and essential: 1.Open, honest, regular, two way communication 2.Strong ongoing demonstration of integrity by leaders – walking the talk and keeping promises 3.Consultative, collaborative decision making, particularly on issues that directly affect employees 4.Caring for employees, encouraging work-life balance & fun at work 5.Minimizing favouritism & politicking and ensuring fairness in performance evaluation, promotions & careers 6.Creating, in a caring manner, unique and special benefits tailored to expressed employee needs, preferably collaboratively 7.Equitable profit sharing and compensation

20. Inputs, Ideas, Remarks, Comments??!! Thank You