The Meaning Architects

The Meaning Architects

Hi adventurers,

Today I’m going to share, an older but compelling, view on the role of HR practitioners as "the meaning architects".

These are some notes from a talk Dave Ulrich, the world's most influential HR practitioner, gave on the direct relationship between how employees feel, and investor confidence in their company..

Dave Ulrich is a professor of business at the University of Michigan and is regarded by many as the most influential person in HR. His wife, Wendy Ulrich has been a practising psychologist for 20 years and focuses on helping leaders create meaning at work.

In a keynote session, "The why of work: What’s next in talent", the Ulrichs focused on how to create meaning and purpose, not just in the lives of HR practitioners themselves, but in the lives of the employees where they work.

They have developed a list of seven subjects companies should concentrate on to create that meaning within a company.

These are:
* Identity - what am I known for?
* Purpose and direction - where am I going?
* Relationship and teamwork - who do I travel with?
* Positive work environment - how to build it?
* Engagement - what interests me?
* Resilience and learning - how do I learn from setbacks; and
* Civility and delight - what delights me?

"If we have more meaning in a company, something good will happen," Dave Ulrich said.
"There is a strong correlation between employee attitude and customer attitude.
"When employees find meaning, customers will find meaning."
Investor confidence is linked to employee attitude

Ulrich said that research he is currently involved in proves there is also a strong correlation between the way employees feel and investor confidence.

His group interviewed 416 large-scale corporate investors and asked them, "What do you look at when you invest in a company?"

The predominant answers included:
* Is it making money? (38%);
* Is the firm in a good industry? (33%); and
* Does the firm have great leadership - does the leadership in that firm provide meaning? (28%).

"For those of us in HR these numbers are outstanding.
"Twenty-five to thirty per cent of investor decisions are tied to what we know in HR.
"We can go to employer organisations and say that when employees find passion, purpose and meaning, the stock price of your company will go up. Or if you're in the public sector your company will deliver its goals.
"Meaning makes money.
"So who in our company is the primary meaning maker? We believe it's the CEO, the general manager. Who is the meaning architect? We believe it’s us. It's HR."

Wendy Ulrich asked "What gives you a sense of meaning?" Answers included having children, travel, relationships, religious faith. Nobody mentioned work.
"We find this story everywhere we go," she said.
"Most of our time is in the workplace and yet we are finding most of our meaning outside it.
"This is a tragedy."

She puzzled delegates with a question from her and Dave’s book "The Why of Work".
What single thing will make employees seven times more likely to report high satisfaction with work, twice as likely to be satisfied with their pay, will reduce absenteeism and accidents, reduce customer complaints, increase innovation and result in more sharing of ideas?
"If I could sell you a program that would accomplish that, how many of you would be interested?" The answer - having a best friend at work. "How many companies have programs for that? Or is it something people even think about?"

Dave Ulrich said that he tells managers, "Your HR people should be the meaning architects.
"They will help you go through those seven issues.
"We in HR I think have a great opportunity - not just to make meaning but to make meaning that makes money."