New Report Offers Insights for Increasing Employee Engagement

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Many business studies have shown a positive correlation between shareholder value and employee engagement. That’s the emotional and intellectual involvement an employee has in his or her workplace.

As a result, most organizations consider employee engagement worth measuring, with results offering helpful insights for improvement.

In June, Aon Hewitt released its 2012 Global Engagement report, which contained a welcome bit of good news. It showed that engagement has improved slightly worldwide — 58 percent of employees were engaged in 2011. This compares to 56 percent the previous year. Aon Hewitt’s analysis covered 3,100 organizations, with 9.7 million employees worldwide.

Embracing the Innovator’s Mindset

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When a sports participant lacks confidence, a coach might advise the player to “fake it until you make it.”

In other words, if you act as though you’re confident, you’ll eventually develop real confidence. It’s a mindset.

Similarly, adopting a creative mindset can make a difference for those — about 50 percent of adults — who believe they lack the creativity gene.

It’s mainly a choice, say professors Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen and Clayton M. Christensen, authors of “The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators.”

The American Dream Is Alive And Well, But Different

The deep recession that began in December 2007 officially ended in June 2009. But the effects live on. In fact, many consumers remain worried.

Yet, despite continuing fears, Americans still show resilience and optimism, according to a new survey.

Released in May 2012 by Boston-based PR firm Solomon McCown, the national poll of 1,009 adults shows the American Dream survived the economic hardships of the past few years. It was conducted for the agency by Anderson Robbins Research.

How They Do It: Brand Strategy with ZEESMAN CEO Bonnie Nijst

Can you grow your business by putting your marketing on hold?

Most MBAs would tell you no. But the strategy worked for a client of ZEESMAN, a highly regarded Los Angeles-based brand strategy and marketing firm.

While conducting a brand assessment in advance of the development of a marketing program, ZEESMAN president and CEO Bonnie Nijst found major internal problems at the company. Without correcting them, a new marketing effort would certainly fail. She recommended that they hold off on investing in the marketing until these issues could be addressed.

Wikipedia and Public Relations: Toward More Accuracy and Understanding

Are you among the 53 percent of adult online Americans who use Wikipedia?

Wikipedia entries often lead Internet search results. So many who are beginning a research project find it a helpful starting point.

And, increasingly, reporters are using it for background on stories they are covering.

But the crowd-sourced, online encyclopedia may also contain factual errors.

Are You Part of the E-Reading Trend?

Have you read an e-book recently?

If you said yes, it’s likely that you:

• Read more books, including print versions, than those who say no. The average e-book reader reports reading 24 books in the past 12 months. This compares to an average of 15 for the non-e-book reader.
• Prefer to buy your e-book rather than borrow it.
• Regard family members, friends or co-workers as your best source of interesting title recommendations. 

Education Key to Fostering Innovation and Creativity

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Technology continues to change how we access and consume information.

But are we equipping our students to filter, analyze and synthesize information from multiple streams? Achieving such digital literacy will ground 21st century students for success in work and life.

A closely related need for a changing world is preparing students to analyze and solve problems in creative and innovative ways. 

Interested in Media? Here’s an Interactive Map to Bookmark

Are you a news junkie? If so, you probably know a thing or two about the top U.S. media outlets.

Now, there’s a chance to learn even more about your favorites.

The researchers at Bitly, a URL shortener service, have studied frequently clicked links and the media source behind the link to understand how people use the Internet.

Then, working with Forbes, they took a look at who is visiting top news sites and reading specific articles by state.

An Expert’s Tips for Improving Wellness Communication at Work

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When not at work, Dan is training for a triathlon. Health fanatic? Not at all.

“I just enjoy exercise and love physical competition,” he says.

But Andrea’s time away is family time. She’s often in the car driving her kids to games or lessons.

“I know what I need to be healthy, but I just have a hard time making it happen,” she explains.

Colleagues, but opposites. Clearly, a one-size-fits-all wellness communication approach at work would fizzle. 

Weekend Inspiration: 11 Ways to Think Like a Leader

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Through the years, philosophers, scholars and management consultants have attempted to describe the ingredients of good leadership.

Is there a recipe you can follow?

Or are you born a leader?

The low expectations for leaders of all types — business, non-profit, political and religious — shared by participants in Ketchum’s Leadership Communication Monitor, might discourage some.