Leadership - How employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior management and the organisation's values and principles
Leadership has the biggest influence on how employees feel about the organisation.
Leaders need to create inspiring visions and provide clear direction to positively Impact the My Company factor.
When it comes to Wellbeing, no amount of free fruit or stress busting classes are going to address an imbalance. Employee Wellbeing is a by-product of the leadership and management culture.
If there’s pressure at the top of your organisation, it won’t take long to be felt throughout.
As part of Stress Awareness Month, it encouraged all colleagues to take part in an event in partnership with the Lighthouse charity. Believe housing is committed to continuing to work with the charity to provide access and support for all employees across emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing.
Since the pandemic, the organisation has not stood still in its ambitions to deliver great things. It encourages its leaders to be accessible and visible, some examples include attendance at welcome events for new starters, leadership huddles, and time spent in front-line parts of the business.
The growth and development of its people are really important and it strives to make this a big part of its culture. It works on building a new culture and people strategy which includes how to attract the best people and how it builds skills and exciting careers for now and the future.
Many managers are currently completing apprenticeships both internally and through the local university, and everyone at manager level has the support of an aligned people services business partner. Internal and external coaching is offered, as is a thorough induction process for new managers.
CEO and Principal Mike Gaston posts weekly Moment with Mike vlogs and there is an informal evening Time to Talk meeting with the Vice-Principal. Senior leaders all work to metrics set against the college's Drive to 25 strategic plan, and this filters through to teams in terms of performance plans and objective setting.
With the college based at three different campuses, the pandemic actually encouraged people to work together on platforms such as Microsoft Teams, without having to gather in the same geographical place. This had the silver lining of cutting commutes and preventing travelling time or traffic getting in the way.
Employees are always kept up to date on organisational developments and colleagues' good news, as well as getting the opportunity to ask questions and feedback. There's an internal comms platform where staff can post photos and share ideas, quarterly staff briefings and listening sessions, weekly team meetings and regular formal and informal one-to-ones.
Managers can access external leadership training programmes via ILM or ION. Internal masterclasses offer guidance on line management and employment processes, and all members of the Senior Leadership Team are undertaking coaching and mentoring qualifications. NWH also provides secondment opportunities and the chance to work on cross-team projects.
A focus charity is chosen annually, with the latest being RNLI Wales. There are several charity events throughout the year in and outside work. These have included dragon boat racing and family get-togethers. NWH also supports individual schemes to fundraise and organise their own community benefit events.
