The Trust Differentiator

For ASTD, the world’s largest professional association dedicated to the training and development field, Stephanie Castellano writes here about the importance of trust in creating a productive workplace. Cited here is the Burson-Marsteller/Great Place to Work Survey on Return on Investment on workplace culture.

Jose Tolovi Jr., CEO of the Great Place to Work Institute, says: “Our research and experience has told us that buy-in from senior leadership is a crucial first step to improving a work environment. True company culture is a reflection of an entire organization—from the top down—and connecting company culture to business results requires a strategic and proactive decision on the part of management to become an environment of trust.”

The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase … What Exactly?

by Justin Fox on the HBR Blog

Encouraging to read Fox’s review and response of John Taft’s new book Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street. (Taft is CEO of RBC Wealth Management-U.S.)

Fox reinforces the role of culture and the ruin of organizations when they are devoid of it. Return-on-investment of workplace culture is crystalized in the lessons of the financial crisis. Good read (and good reminder).

What Used to Be a Work/Life Balance is Now a Tango

The liberation that communications technology has afforded us comes with its own price and its own challenges. Technology allows us to move around freely, but clings tightly everywhere we go.

Echoing in my ear, I hear my 8-year old asking, “Why are you the only mommy on the soccer field with a laptop?” Ugh. What was once a dicussion of work/life balance is now a complete merger of the two. You’re allowed to “have a life” as long as work is at your finger tips.

Forbes’ Judy Martin understands this new reality. She engages and empowers an in-demand workforce with her article, “10 Reasons the Human Capital Zeitgeist is Emerging.” Rich with good data to make the point. All good signs that things are looking up.