How to Manage 125000 Employees

SUMMARY.

Shari Ballard is the executive vice president for human capital at national electronics chain, Best Buy. She is one of the top leaders at a retailer with a $26 billion market capitalization, and her biggest fear is becoming a “talking head”, she does not want to lose her voice in favor of rehearsed spin just because she has “executive” in her job title.

Ballard thinks executives need to get cozy with their employees and customers instead of relaxing in their boardroom chairs, but it seems to be a bit difficult since she is in charge of managing a 125000 strong workforce at a company.

Ballard has five ways for getting out of the board room and into what she calls “the conversation”, and these are the following:

Reading blogs- she has opened her eyes to the power of blogging to reshape business. Now she keeps close tabs on employees blogs and responds when workers have questions or concerns.

Do not assume everyone likes your brilliant new idea- not everyone is going to respond in the same way to a new program imposed.

Never outsource your own point of view- you have to own your own point of view.

Consider discipline over dismissal- imagine yourself in the other personÐ'Ò's position, then perhaps discipline would be better than dismissal.

Downsize your employee handbook вЂ" as the handbook becomes thicker, employees stop reading it.

MOTIVATION

There are many ways to improve the performance of a firm: innovation in high technology, publicity of the firm, skilled employees, a good managing, interaction within the levels or departments of the firm…but employees play a quite important role. To keep the good performance of the corporation employees need to be motivated in their work. Motivating workers is important to obtain greater emphasis in product development efficiency and to increase profits.