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APPRECIATION CARDS
A special set for Women's Month
A selection of inspiring Appreciation Cards to share. Download and share with deserving colleagues to show your appreciation for their hard work and outstanding qualities. Click on the image to enlarge and then select the download arrow (top left) to download it.
Appreciation Cards
APPRECIATION CARDS
A little love goes a long way
A selection of inspiring Appreciation Cards to share. Download and share with deserving colleagues to show your appreciation for their hard work and outstanding qualities. Click on the image to enlarge and then select the download arrow (top left) to download it.
RESOURCES
Connecting Times
November 2023 Connecting Times
Many organisations and leaders believe that driving engagement creates a thriving culture. This is indeed so. Yet, attempting to achieve high levels of Employee Engagement while Employee Wellbeing is crumbling, is not possible.
Free To Grow has an innovative approach to helping organisations enhance wellbeing, engagement and their culture.
Free To Grow has an innovative approach to helping organisations enhance wellbeing, engagement and their culture.
October 2023 Connecting Times
October is World Mental Health Awareness month and an ideal time to turn up the spotlight on mental health and wellbeing. Since 2019, employers have increasingly experienced the extent of wellbeing challenges at work.
Fast forward to 2023, and the stats from Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplace Report uncovers some startling facts about how employees are faring at work and in their personal lives.
Fast forward to 2023, and the stats from Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplace Report uncovers some startling facts about how employees are faring at work and in their personal lives.
Connecting Times - September 2023
If frontline leaders are the window through which employees view the organisation - what are your employees seeing?
Gallup's most profound finding -- ever -- is probably this: 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the manager. Frontline managers, in particular, are the most crucial lever when it comes to engaging employees. When managers are burned out and disengaged, companywide performance suffers. But when manager engagement is high, business success soars.
It's been estimated that frontline leaders typically make up 50-60% of an organisation's management and directly supervise up to 80% of the workforce. They have a profound impact on engagement as they shape the experiences, beliefs and behaviours of the people they lead. Sadly, the realities and skillsets of many frontline leaders are far from ideal.
Gallup's most profound finding -- ever -- is probably this: 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the manager. Frontline managers, in particular, are the most crucial lever when it comes to engaging employees. When managers are burned out and disengaged, companywide performance suffers. But when manager engagement is high, business success soars.
It's been estimated that frontline leaders typically make up 50-60% of an organisation's management and directly supervise up to 80% of the workforce. They have a profound impact on engagement as they shape the experiences, beliefs and behaviours of the people they lead. Sadly, the realities and skillsets of many frontline leaders are far from ideal.
Connecting Times - August 2023
In the ongoing battle for talent, achieving gender equality has become an increasingly critical goal for companies. The demand for better work experiences and opportunities from women is unprecedented, leading to a surge in women leaders seeking new career opportunities. This exodus of women leaders could have severe implications for businesses already grappling with a gender gap in leadership, especially at the initial rungs.
The 'broken rung'
"Long before bumping into any glass ceiling, many women run into obstacles trying to grasp the very first rung of the management ladder - and not because they are pausing their careers to raise children. As a result, it's early in many women's careers, not later, when they fall dramatically behind men in promotions, blowing open a gender gap that widens every step up the ladder," shares an article in the Wall Street Journal.
The 'broken rung'
"Long before bumping into any glass ceiling, many women run into obstacles trying to grasp the very first rung of the management ladder - and not because they are pausing their careers to raise children. As a result, it's early in many women's careers, not later, when they fall dramatically behind men in promotions, blowing open a gender gap that widens every step up the ladder," shares an article in the Wall Street Journal.
Connecting Times – July 2023
The World Economic Forum's latest 'Future of Jobs' report reveals the top 10 most in-demand job skills. Based on a survey of 803 companies in 27 industry clusters in 45 different economies - executives predict that 44% of employees' skill sets may require updating by 2027.
As expected, tech literacy ranks among the top ten in-demand skills. Most interestingly, 5 out of the 10 are self-efficacy or 'soft skills'; and Leadership comes in at number 9.
CLICK HERE to read more.
As expected, tech literacy ranks among the top ten in-demand skills. Most interestingly, 5 out of the 10 are self-efficacy or 'soft skills'; and Leadership comes in at number 9.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Connecting Times –April 2023
Employee Wellbeing is one of the top business priorities in 2023 shares Business Day Live. Forbes also paces concerns about human health first in their analysis of the 2023 workplace and speaks to the growing challenge of Leadership and HR burnout.
Connecting Times – March 2023
“The hypothalamus, the area of our brain that controls basic bodily functions such as eating and sleeping, and dopamine, the 'reward neurotransmitter' are heavily affected by feelings of gratitude," says a Psychology Today article. This means that showing gratitude can improve wellness, sleep habits, metabolism and stress levels. Ultimately, this can lead to a better work/life balance and improved performance in the workplace.
Connecting Times – January 2023
Starting one's first job after years of studying is an exciting milestone. It is often, however, a disappointing experience. According to the Havard Business Review, many graduates commonly struggle with three challenges when starting their careers: unrealistic expectations, learning to navigate the workplace and dealing with the absence of feedback.
Connecting Times – December 2022
The 2022 Momentum Unisa Household Financial Wellness Index has just been released. The report reveals that South Africans are making progress in recovering from 2020, our annulus horribilis, but need a helping hand.
"South Africa is facing a cost-of-living crisis, people are struggling to keep their heads above water," says Bertie Nel, Head of financial planning and advice, at Momentum.
"South Africa is facing a cost-of-living crisis, people are struggling to keep their heads above water," says Bertie Nel, Head of financial planning and advice, at Momentum.
Connecting Times – November 2022
Placing employee wellbeing high on your strategic agenda is commendable. Developing and implementing a strategy to equip your leaders to touch 20 000 people, countrywide in a deep and meaningful manner in a few months, is another. This is what leading retailer, Woolworths has achieved.
Connecting Times – October 2022
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. It's an ideal time to turn up the spotlight on mental health and wellbeing. In 2019, employers started to grasp the extent of mental health challenges at work. Fast forward to 2022, and burnout and mental health challenges "are now the norm among employees across all organisational levels" according to the Harvard Business Review article "It's a new Era for Metal Health at Work".
Connecting Times – August 2022
McKinsey's Women in the Workplace 2021 Report reveals women's representation has improved across all levels of the corporate pipeline in 2020. In addition to the challenges and complexities wreaked by the pandemic, there is still a 'broken rung' at the first step up to manager. Women are still promoted to manager at far lower rates than men, and this makes it nearly impossible for companies to lay a foundation for sustained progress at more senior levels.
Connecting Times – July 2022
First-line leaders have a key role to play in employee engagement. They shape the experiences, beliefs and behaviours of the people they lead. Sadly, the realities of many first-line leaders are far from ideal.
Connecting Times – June 2022
Adapting to changing employee priorities while balancing business outcomes in an unpredictable economy is one of the key challenges facing organisations.
While most knowledge workers in South Africa favour the idea of a hybrid working model, data recently revealed by Microsoft shows that people are generally unsure of when to come into the office and why. Many employees feel the commute is unnecessary and would rather spend valuable time with family.
While most knowledge workers in South Africa favour the idea of a hybrid working model, data recently revealed by Microsoft shows that people are generally unsure of when to come into the office and why. Many employees feel the commute is unnecessary and would rather spend valuable time with family.
Connecting Times – May 2022
Burnout amongst leaders and employees is reaching unprecedented rates. The Deloitte Women At Work 2022 survey reveals that women, in particular, are facing widespread burnout. This is exacerbated by poor work/life balance and an inability to "switch off" from work. The inability to "switch off" is not always one of choice. 42% of the respondents could not switch off due to concerns that their career progression will be negatively affected if they are not constantly available.
Connecting Times – April 2022
Intentionally or unintentionally, many leaders have shaped a high-pressure, take-no-prisoners culture to drive performance and 'win' in the market. Based on the assumption that pressure pushes employees to perform more, better, and faster, these leaders are often blind to the hidden costs of this approach.
Connecting Times – February 2022
Free To Grow is celebrating a phenomenal 28 years of igniting purpose and potential for growth. Our journey has taken us from humble beginnings on the farms in the rural Western Cape to 35 countries, where we have had the privilege of touching the lives of over 108 000 people in more than 1 400 organisations.
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