Culture, talent should top business agenda

Deloitte Botswana hosted a coffee session with leading HR Managers, at the Daily Grind in Gaborone recently.

Employee engagement and organisational culture have become strategic level issues that CEO’s and C-suite executives are currently grappling with, more often than they had anticipated. Deloitte global market research has shown that 82% of executives think that culture is a potential competitive advantage, but only one in five senior leaders believe that they have the “right” culture in their organisations.  A number of organisations have realised the need for a different approach, largely placed around employee engagement, wellness and satisfaction. Over 50% of companies are currently attempting to change their culture in response to shifting talent markets and increased competition.  Deloitte’s main aim of the session was to have conversations with stakeholders from multiple sectors of the economy on what can be done to mitigate risks around employees and productivity, which ultimately drives overall organisational performance.

Millennials were at the centre of discussion. Recruiting and retaining talent in this age group has been challenging. The session proved to be insightful regarding what can be done to inspire and motivate this group of future leaders. Flexibility, such as telecommuting and lenience on work hours, performance based rewards and recognition, and project assignments were some of the suggestions brought to the table.   It is imperative that the market understands how to manage and unleash the potential within this target group, an area that Deloitte has expertise and resources to help organisations achieve.

Deloitte has been advising organisations on how to optimise their resources to achieve their business mandate. The Best Company Survey is a service that Deloitte has provided to a number of clients in the Botswana market since launching the survey locally in 2010. As the market landscape and the economy adjust to volatility, uncertainly and agility, so does the need for organisations to continuously introspect and adapt. People play a fundamental role in shaping and transforming an organisation, and Deloitte emphasised the need to recruit and nurture the right talent, with retention being key. The Best Company Survey assists organisations in assessing the attraction of employees to the organisation across a number of dimensions, as well as their levels of engagement and activation.

The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund) shared insights on how participating in the survey since 2010 has enabled them to become more innovative and employee focused. MVA Fund’s Senior Manager Human Capital, Ms Poppy Charity Sechele, highlighted that the survey helped them improve their overall performance and enhance their internal and external stakeholder relations.  The MVA Fund CEO, Mr Michael Mooketsi Tlhagwane advised companies that have not yet participated, to take advantage of the platform if they want to remain competitive.

Bruce Podmore, who has been spearheading the survey at Deloitte Botswana, spoke about the link between culture and employee engagement, and how culture is a fundamental component of executing corporate strategy, driven by leadership. Podmore further highlighted that organisational culture may seem to be intangible, but it can be measured and deliberately shaped using various levers to change the way work is done in organisations and how people feel about their experience at work.  He encouraged HR managers to work closely with Senior Leaders to align culture to support the business strategy.  Podmore further suggested that getting feedback from employees is a constant process that should not be an annual event.  Continuous engagement is an imperative part of driving culture, and ensuring implementation of any organisation’s talent strategy.

Deloitte has demonstrated that culture connects people together and can drive execution and consistency of business strategy. The company advised CEO’s to work hand in hand with their Human Resource departments to achieve competitive advantage through its talent and culture, as its been proven to have a positive impact on a company’s overall performance.

Deloitte’s surveys are designed on global trends, and its service offerings are derived from its international presence and the ability to tap into its global network of expertise and resources.