What Do You Know?
In business, the people who have the greatest amount of information and who best assimilate and communicate that information usually win. Many (maybe most?) people in the workforce are content being “done” with education and only work on professional development when required to do so. And, really, that’s OK – so long as there’s an understanding of the limits they are placing on their ability to maintain their position in today’s economy (and, frankly, the potential risk of being on the “outside” of the workplace).
Every business leader I know maintains habits around gathering information. All of them understand the changing nature of business and the fact that what got you here today, will not sustain you tomorrow. I believe this is especially true for today’s professionals tasked with the responsibility for recognition and rewards. Increasingly, people are looking to the workplace for self-validation and “holistic” living (a long list of reasons that may be addressed here in the future…). Companies that create environments fostering the accomplishment of these goals will keep their people and will enjoy greater levels of engagement.
So what does the professional in our space need to know and where is the information found? Here’s my list:
General Business Knowledge
Over the years, the most useful professional development time I’ve spent is the daily 20 minutes or so that I spend reading The Wall Street Journal. I scan it to understand the important business topics of the day, to gather any information relevant to my company and to maintain a sense of what business and political leaders are saying about contemporary issues. In addition to the WSJ, I have a clipping service on my web browser that feeds me information. Headlines relating to current news, the latest information on clients and prospects as well as their stock price (if they are publicly traded) are updated in real time. Finally, I scatter magazines and books in to the mix as I see topics that interest me or that need to be researched. Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune and Business Week are a few favorites. My latest business book is The Marketing Mavens by Noel Capon.
Recognition and Reward Knowledge
By far, the best resource has been Recognition Professionals International (RPI, formerly the National Association for Employee Recognition). Their website is www.recognition.org. This organization sponsors and provides access to research, case studies, best practices and education. Close behind would be the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) at www.incentivemarketing.org.
Both of these organizations hold annual conferences that are well worth attending. The seminars and associated trade shows highlight the latest issues around recognition and reward. Additionally, attending the conferences offers exposure to the people that are shaping much of the contemporary thinking in our marketplace.
The greatest opportunities in business are found and exploited by the people willing to invest the time necessary to understand their marketplace. As professionals with responsibility for recognition and reward results, we are in a unique position to make a difference – both for our companies and for the individuals that work there.
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