604. Stephan Meier, Author of The Employee Advantage

Show Notes: Stephan Meier, a professor at Columbia Business School, is the author of the book "Employee Advantage." He teaches the business strategy core class, which is required for all MBA students. Stephan also teaches an elective on the future of work, focusing on how treating employees and labor interacts with technology and business strategy. Stephan conducts international trips to African countries, such as Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya, to provide students with international experiences and perspectives on businesses, strategy, and different environments. His focus is on putting workers first to help businesses thrive. The conversation turns to Stephan’s book and the concept of the workplace and business strategy. He mentions how the pandemic brought the workplace under the spotlight and technology use ramped up, while at the same time, Stephan was teaching a class on the Future of Work. The conversation turns to the concept of putting workers first as a key element of business success, and how the business language reveals the mode of managing the employee base. This outlook has led to a large divide between employee and employer. According to Gallup surveys, about 65% of Americans are not engaged at work, and this number is even higher worldwide. Stephan also talks about customer centricity and how employee experience is crucial for both innovation and customer satisfaction. The Employee First Approach Stephan cites Jeff Bezos, and Amazon as examples of organizations that prioritize employee satisfaction. Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos believes that learning from dissatisfied employees can lead to continuous improvement and better business outcomes. This mindset is also seen in other industries, such as Costco in the US, which provides clear career paths, communicates clearly, and promotes internally. DHL Express, for two years in a row, was named the best employer in the world on the best workplaces in the world list for two consecutive years. They put employees first because they realized that turnover is terrible and happy employees are more engaged and leads to satisfied customers. They changed aspects of communication, listening, training, and career path within the organization, leading to financial success. How the Employee/Customer Centric Approach Wins Stephan discusses the importance of treating employees well and putting them first at the margin when making trade-offs. He talks about Starbucks, where the company's customer-centric approach has led to a loss of a customer-centric environment. He talks about how this could be improved. Stephan also emphasizes that both customers and employees are critical stakeholders that create value within the organization. Companies that prioritize their employees are more likely to be successful. This is because they have a strong focus on competence, which is encouraged by offering the right tasks that push employees optimally. This is crucial for motivation and retention, as people often leave organizations when they don't learn anything new. How Successful Companies Prioritize Employees Stephan states that companies strive to differentiate through a customer-centric approach, but he goes on to explain that the employee-centric and the customer-centric approach are often interchangeable. He offers examples of companies that prioritize their employees including Costco, DHL Express, and MasterCard. Microsoft uses an AI-powered tool called Unlocked, which allows employees to choose projects they want to participate in and matches them with opportunities within the company. This approach not only improves the internal market but also creates a better experience for employees. Companies like KKR, which invest heavily in portfolio companies, implement ownership programs, which give employees stock options as a start. To differentiate between companies that prioritize their employees, companies should consider metrics such as engagement level and turnover rates. By focusing on these early indicators, companies can better understand their commitment to their employees and work towards creating a healthy workplace culture that leads to productive and engaged workers. How to Build an Employee-centric Workplace Stephan suggests that companies should start by focusing on what they do with customers and how they do it with employees. They can use ideation workshops to understand customer needs and differentiate themselves from competitors. For example, Eli Lilly applied customer journeys to employees, focusing on their experiences and moments that matter. This approach helped them get more people promoted and had a significant impact on their business. Stephan recommends designing workshops to help employees think about ideas and motivations, as well as redesigning processes and procedures within the organization. By doing so, companies can better understand their employees' needs and preferences, leading to a more engaged, productive, and innovative workforce. Timestamps: 04:09: Development of The Employee Advantage 04:29: Counterintuitive Claims and Examples of Employee-Centric Companies  12:29: Balancing Employee and Customer Centricity  15:01: Practical Examples of Employee-Centric Companies  19:44: Criteria for Identifying Employee-Centric Companies  23:23: Industry-Specific Considerations  27:30: Consulting Approach for Implementing Employee-Centric Strategies  Links: Website: https://www.stephanmeier.com/ Stephan’s Book: The Employee Advantage   Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.