In

project management,

there is no magic rule to guide you. Every team is different because it is made up of people, all of whom are unique. And every project, although it may have common roots, ends up developing in a different way. Today we analyze two healthy

trends that have penetrated the business world and relate them to

project management

to see what they can contribute and how they improve the pulse of any high-performance team.

 

Back in Palo Alto…

A few years ago (not too many), the news broke that the world’s leading companies, based in Palo Alto and with a technological bias, had invested heavily in facilities for employees in their offices. Pool tables, foosball tables, slides, common areas for relaxation, and video game rooms were some of the improvements or extras that became most popular in the common ideology. After a period in which some start-ups and agencies tried to emulate this example, opinions changed and it was common to find threads on LinkedIn with conflicting views about the appropriateness of investing in this type of strategy for employees. Some said it was better to invest in salaries, others in time, but the question is: to what extent did these facilities play an important role in
project and team management? To what extent have they been crucial to the incredible growth of these companies?

 

The 10 keys to Silicon Valley

In 2015, a group of senior Catalan executives traveled to Silicon Valley, invited by FemCat. Every two years, this association has visited some of the most dynamic areas of the planet with the aim of incorporating ideas that can be transferred to their business or socioeconomic environment.

Group of coworkers at an office brainstorming and presentation

From that immersion trip to the world’s top tech businesses, they brought back a decalogue with the ten key principles of their way of doing business and understanding it. What caught our attention in this decalogue was that innovation and creativity are basic ingredients of the reality of the valley, and companies encourage them. Google, for example, allows its employees to devote 20% of their project management time to collaborating in areas unrelated to the department in which they work. The reality is that it has been proven that in order for creativity to come to us, we need a certain amount of freedom of movement. It is precisely when we stop thinking about the problem that we find the solution. Almost always while we are doing something else. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to think that having different spaces, being able to take a nap after lunch in a comfortable place, working in other areas, or being able to relax the team after a lot of stress in the office facilities, fosters an environment more conducive to good ideas, more refined projects, and a healthy touch in the mind and body of the staff.

 

The WELL certificate

The WELL certificate is awarded to offices that have been designed and developed with the well-being and health of their employees in mind. In the same way that LEED or BREEAM seals recognize sustainable and efficient buildings, the WELL certificate aims to
promote healthy spaces
designed for companies. To this end, The International Well Building Institute—the body that awards the certification—evaluates hundreds of parameters classified into seven categories. In 2017, the sixth floor of the CBRE Madrid office received WELL GOLD certification, becoming the first office in Spain and the second in Europe to achieve this under the New and Existing Interiors category.

The empty room with plant near the wall

This is the result of data collected from a survey of its employees:

The data speaks for itself. 100% believe that this new workspace generates business. Their productivity has increased by 80% and they have the flexibility to work in open and group environments or in intimate and individual settings. This new way of working is known as Agile working and is revealing its great potential to maximize team results. Is it possible that investing in this intangible asset has made these positive results possible? We believe so.

 

Healthy project management

We refuse to believe that
project management
in this type of company is not influenced by the constant possibility of changing spaces and the certainty that you are part of a company that believes in its employees. Healthy

trends applied to the business world have long since demonstrated the incredible influence and benefits they bring to teams. It is not a passing fad or a simple whim to put slides in offices. It is about having a positive impact on the daily lives of your employees by providing open, intimate spaces with different uses. It is about promoting a healthy, inspiring lifestyle that is conducive to doing great work. A good way to start applying these new methodologies is to have

fresh fruit in the office. This has recently become a must for companies focused on attracting and retaining talent. Undoubtedly, there are already many companies that have put this strategy at the forefront of their agendas, and we hope that, over time, it will become the norm in the business world.

Lack of motivation in the workplace is a problem that affects countless companies. The lack of goals, career plans, incentives, or challenges in day-to-day work can end up undermining the effectiveness and performance of the workforce and, as a result, the competitiveness of the company declines. Here are some of the strategies that top companies have implemented to improve employee motivation.

 

Teleworking or working without set hours

office work place in Beijing

There is a growing trend among companies, especially technology companies, to offer the possibility of teleworking one or two days a week. These initiatives aim to relax the usual rigid rules and promote employee autonomy in pursuit of self-management and responsibility for their area of work. Opinions are divided on this issue, as not everyone sees this alternative as a solution to the problem of lack of motivation.

Back in 2008,

Iberdrola tried introducing a reduced working day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for its 9,000 employees. Six years later, the director of human resources who had been in charge of the decision spoke of an increase in productivity, a 20% reduction in absenteeism, and a 15% reduction in workplace accidents. In short, this experiment had made employees happier and more motivated. The idea is to concentrate working hours as much as possible and avoid endless breakfasts, checking social media during working hours, wasting time unnecessarily, and focusing on what is important, as all the work has to be done in seven hours. You can read the full article at this link.

 

Rewarding performance achievements

Another factor that contributes to a lack of motivation is not receiving recognition from senior management when job performance has been excellent. To this we could add the lack of a career plan or the possibility of internal promotion. Some human resources departments are beginning to consider recognition or gamification strategies, through which objectives are defined for the workforce. Having clear objectives to meet can undoubtedly help us perform our tasks better, especially if we know that we are eligible for a reward (a trip, cash, a gift, or fresh fruit in the office, for example).

 

Toxic environments

 

When a high-performance team is formed, there is usually good harmony, which maintains a high level of excellence at work. Everyone is completely focused on their tasks and aligned in achieving common goals. There is no lack of motivation, because if one person fails, the others’ performance suffers. However, toxic teams do not function well. There is anger, resentment, and bad attitudes that end up undermining the work environment and leading to poor results. This is often the result of poor, overly controlling leadership that mistrusts its team and discriminates between team members. All of these attitudes can be remedied with reconciliation strategies, team building, coaching for managers or employees, or a clear internal communication policy.

 

Lack of talent retention policies

 

Fortunately, more and more companies are developing specific policies to support and retain talent. Many of their actions are aimed at balancing the heavy workload with an open, approachable, and inspiring company philosophy. And, of course, one of their main objectives is to have

highly motivated employees.

To achieve this, they generate, among other things:

 

Fresh fruit, the tip of the iceberg

 

It may seem like a passing fad, but offering fresh fruit to employees is undoubtedly one of the most visible strategies in companies that truly care about their staff. This is just the tip of the iceberg, because there is usually a much deeper approach to genuine employee care behind it. As professionals in fruit solutions for offices and workplaces, we are proud to be able to do our bit in this new business world.

More and more companies are beginning to take the benefits of fruit in the workplace

seriously. You may be wondering, what does fruit have to do with work? It’s a very reasonable question, and as

fruit experts, we’ve set out to answer all your questions. What’s more, if you read to the end, we’ll suggest a fresh diet for Mondays to make the week a little easier. Shall we begin?

 

3 reasons why you’ll love fruit in your office

 

It’s pretty. You may think this is an absurd reason, but it’s been proven that surrounding yourself with beautiful things inspires you and projects healthy energy around you. We know from our years of experience in business that the benefits of fruit in the office start with having a dedicated space for it. An aesthetically pleasing corner where you can take refuge when things get tough ;) Fruit is beautiful, puts you in a good mood, and creates spaces for relaxation and conversation.

Bowl of healthy fresh fruit salad on wooden background. Top view.

It

brings the team together. “Who ate the last apple? I asked for it…” You’ll have the opportunity to share a moment of laughter and confidences with your colleagues. It can be a

meeting point to review the week. You’ll have an excuse to get up, breathe, stretch your legs, and chat for a few minutes with whoever is near the fruit box.

It’s healthy. Although it seems obvious, it is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the benefits of having fruit in the office. We’ve all been in the office mid-morning and felt our stomachs rumbling. To stave off hunger until lunchtime, we head to the nearest vending machine and buy any salty snack or industrial pastry. Having fruit in the office means that you don’t have to stop because you’re hungry when you’re very busy (which is important) and you can eat something quick, healthy, and delicious.

 

A fresh diet for a stressful Monday

Okay, let’s get to the important stuff. Now that we’ve covered the benefits of having fruit in the office, here are a few tips on how to choose the most refreshing varieties that will give you the most energy on any stressful Monday full of emails.

 

Energizing and refreshing fruits

If you need an extra boost of quick energy and freshness, we suggest you mix these fruits throughout your workday:

Orange first thing in the morning: We recommend eating it first thing in the morning, as it is a fruit that could make it difficult to sleep in the afternoon or evening due to the large amount of solar energy it absorbs. If you haven’t had time for a proper breakfast, you can slice it and add cinnamon and ginger powder, with a little honey. As well as being a delicious combination, it will give you the energy you need to get through all your morning tasks.

Apple after lunch: You know the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are rich in pectin, a type of fiber that is very beneficial for the intestines and helps eliminate toxins accumulated from weekend excesses. It contains a compound of unique organic acids that promote the renewal of intestinal flora and act as a natural toothpaste. In short, have one after lunch when you return to your desk and your stomach and mouth will feel like new.

Banana: Super easy to eat, the banana is the king of potassium as it provides a huge amount of this mineral, which is essential for keeping you hydrated and giving your muscles strength. It is an important mineral for most vital functions and is responsible for keeping the body energized. In fact, people with potassium deficiency are often tired. Eat one in the afternoon when your energy is flagging, and you’ll be unstoppable until quitting time.

The business world is changing. And talent management is becoming a priority for leading companies in every sector. The trend toward change in the world of work continues unabated, to the point that what was once known as the Human Resources Department is now simply called People. Because people, each member of the team, are a company’s most valuable intangible asset, don’t you think?

 

Changes in the perception of talent

Until not long ago, the unwritten laws of big business set clear objectives regarding the obligations and rights of each party to the contract (employer-employee). Very few companies took into account all aspects related to quality of life in the office, flexible working hours, work-life balance policies, or continuing education, among other noteworthy aspects.
But that reality has changed in recent years thanks, among other things, to the possibility of working remotely, the entry into the world of work of a new generation with different priorities, and the growing need to provide new incentives to employees in a world where employment is no longer for life.

 

More competitive companies

New trends in talent management have gained momentum since the 1990s, when some companies realized that it takes employees around 24 months to reach their full potential and around 18 months to absorb the culture of the company they work for.
Therefore, retaining talent to form cohesive teams aligned with the corporate culture has become one of the most useful strategies for positioning elite and highly competitive companies.

Meeting of coworkers and planning next steps of work

Trends in talent management

In 2018, 41% of CEOs expected their company to change significantly over the next three years, according to a study by the consulting firm KPMG. In this context, talent management, through a clear employer branding strategy, is fundamental to any business agenda.
The well-known digital transformation must be accompanied by a true transformation in the internal culture of organizations. This ranges from recruiting marketing actions to offer the most attractive image possible to candidates to designing the best employee experience.
As we have already pointed out, it is important to bear in mind that the millennial generation is entering the world of work with new demands. They seek flexibility, added value, and to feel inspired by the company’s philosophy. These demands were unthinkable until recently in most companies, large or small.

 

Specific actions to become a top employer

Hand writing Teamwork Makes The Dream Work with white chalk on a blackboard.

Onboarding: Starting a new job is a crucial moment for both parties. Therefore, onboarding protocols for new employees (the process of welcoming and integrating them into the team) are clearly the first item on the list of actions to retain talent.

Gamification; Or group dynamics through play is one of the most creative areas where talent managers can develop their strategies.

Events; Focused on team building or team cohesion through challenges or group activities.

Performance management; A series of very useful tools for understanding the day-to-day work of the team in detail, through questionnaires where each team member can rate their colleagues.

Always having fresh fruit in the office; a trend that is gaining momentum and implies a corporate philosophy of caring for the well-being and quality of life of employees. As fruit experts, we can help you make a positive impact through our solutions for fruit consumption in your office or workplace. Without a doubt, it will be something that can help you retain talent in your company ;)

#fruit #talent #companies #people #humanresources #teams #management