Your Employees' Experience REALLY Matters

Cathie Leimbach • February 6, 2023

For years HR has handled all ‘people’ matters in most companies. The other departments focused on producing products and serving their customers. However, since productivity is greatly impacted by how employees are trained, informed, treated, and rewarded, a strong bottom line depends on all leaders caring about their people.

The foundation for a positive employee experience is seeing everyone as a partner and stakeholder and worthy of being treated with respect. The employee experience consists of all the thoughts and feelings employees have of the company. This includes the culture, the brand, clarity of workplace expectations, being provided with the training and tools to do their job, pay and benefits, how the job impacts their personal life, and being listened to.

A recent workplace study found that the top three reasons employees quit are:

  • not feeling valued by their organizations,
  • not feeling valued by their managers, or
  • not feeling a sense of belonging at work. 

Each of these reasons were cited by 50 to 55% of employees. This emphasizes the need for all people leaders to invite employees to share their perspectives, listen to them, and take action to address their concerns. This requires leaders to prioritize one-on-one and small group meetings with their employees.

Other factors that impact the employee experience are quality technology with user-friendly interfaces, ongoing skills development, opportunities to use their expertise, and a diverse and inclusive environment.

You may see that an employee’s workplace experience is important, yet, wonder just how important it really is. A global company with over 1000 retail locations measured several factors, including employee longevity, full-time versus part-time status, experience in multiple roles, and skill level.  They found that when employee experience scores at a store moved from the bottom quarter of the company’s retail outlets to the top quarter both revenue and profits increased by about 50%.

If you like the idea of a 50% increase in your bottom line, what is the first step you will take to improving your employees’ workplace experience?  It might be asking open-ended questions to learn the obstacles they are facing and collaborating with them to create a more favorable workplace. You can almost count on win/win outcomes for the employees and the company. 

Leadership Development: The Hidden Superpower for Your Business

By Cathie Leimbach • April 29, 2025
Ever wonder why some companies consistently outperform their competitors? According to Ram Charan's "Leaders at All Levels," the secret often lies in their approach to leadership development. Think about it: when organizations invest in developing leaders at every level, they're not just checking a box for HR—they're directly fueling their economic engine. Charan says that leadership talent is actually the biggest constraint on business growth worldwide. Too many companies treat leadership development as a nice-to-have program rather than a strategic necessity. But those who get it right create a continuous chain reaction of leadership excellence throughout their organization, resulting in measurable business advantages. The most successful companies don't just develop executives at the top. They identify potential leaders early, move them through increasingly challenging assignments, and ensure they gain the necessary skills to drive performance at every level. In today's competitive landscape, your leadership pipeline isn't just about succession planning—it's about creating the sustainable competitive advantage that drives superior business results and economic performance right now.

The Power of Reflective Listening at Work

By Cathie Leimbach • April 22, 2025
Have you ever felt like someone wasn't really hearing you? Reflective listening can fix that problem in the workplace. Reflective listening means truly understanding what someone is saying before you respond. When a coworker is speaking, focus completely on their words instead of planning what you'll say next. Many of us start forming responses while others are still talking, which means we miss important parts of their message. True listening requires patience and practice. To become a reflective listener, start by giving your full attention. Put away your phone, turn away from your computer, and make eye contact. Then, after the person finishes speaking, briefly summarize what you heard. You might say, "So what I'm hearing is..." This shows you were truly listening and gives them a chance to clarify if needed. The benefits of reflective listening are huge. It reduces misunderstandings, builds trust between coworkers, and helps solve problems more effectively. People feel valued when they're truly heard, which creates a more positive workplace. With practice, reflective listening becomes a habit that improves all your work relationships. Remember: listen first, respond second. Your workplace will be better for it.
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