There is something truly special about being able to fly – the freedom, the control, the chance to see a perspective that few get to experience. I appreciate this position, but it commands respect.
Occasionally, I kill the plane’s power – it isn’t as dramatic as you might think – I’m practicing whats called a glide approach so that if the engine were to fail, I’d have the skills, technique and, composure to make the right data driven decisions at the right time. Fortunately, planes are built to glide and I’m able to use the comprehensive instrument panel to help me stay in control.
This infinite loop of real-time scanning, assessing and adjusting is critical. The planes configuration needs to be perfect, otherwise the consequences could be dire. Essentially, I’m flying blind without the data driven insight and control that drives decisions making – a bit like being a modern business leader.
What does HR technology have to do with Flying?
While you might think that flying and running a business are worlds apart, the key elements are very similar indeed. In both situations, change is a constant and you have to be ready and able to respond in an instant with the data and information to support your decision.
In today’s rapidly changing business environment, data-driven decisions and control is a must for an accurate strategy, as well as making key decisions and overall HR planning. Take the example of the modern transient, diverse and distributed workforce.
Without real-time data, how will you maintain HR programs that acquire, motivate, engage, reward, develop and retain your employees? In the same vein, how will you know who isn’t happy, who will replace them or why people are leaving? If you are comfortable flying blind into these dark stormy clouds, then go ahead, but this could leave your business open to turbulence.
If you believe that your business doesn’t have the data-driven insight and tools to glide through the critical HR questions, it might be time to take a different flight plan with the help of Next Gen’ HR technology.
This is your Captain speaking…
In the same way that aviation technology has soared in recent years – providing pilots with the best instruments and tools available – we have seen a similar revolution in the HR sector. While you won’t be able to glide across the skies, business leaders can gain insight into core HR values and information – through various dashboards, indicators, charts and traffic lights.
These keywords might sound complicated, they aren’t once you get the hang of what each represents and know how to make the most of the available data. A simple HR dashboard collects the most relevant information that a business leader requires (reports, KPIs) and organises it all into one screen. Across various charts, graphs and meters, you can gauge whether the business is on track to meets its various goals and objectives.
Good dashboards are interactive and customisable – allowing a business leader or pilot to control their operations the way that they want. At the end of the day, the success of the enterprise or flight comes down to the skills of the leader and what tools they have to help them.
Next Gen’ HR technology can also support your passengers or employees. Using people analytics, business leaders can utilise data and sophisticated analysis to understand the complexities around hiring and promotion, leadership, performance evaluation and job design. Of course, this is far removed from traditional methods of forcing personal relationships and making risky decisions based on experience or gut feelings.
Whether in the sky or in a business, you simply can’t afford to make misinformed decisions. As such, forget the paper maps and excel spreadsheets, and adopt a data driven approach to control.
Upgrade to first-class
There are certainly a number of benefits to moving towards Next Gen’ HR technology in addition to real-time, accurate data driven decision making. These includes:
These include:
- Patterns and trends – Analyse similar patterns with ease, and address trends as soon as possible.
- What if scenarios – Plan for the worst case scenario with confidence, leading to stronger decision making and skill sets.
- Effective planning – Use insight to set the course for the future, navigating hurdles, challenges and even unexpected issues.
It is important to remember that successfully flying a plane or running a business can be a matter of specific details. As such, the more planning and insight that you can gain, interpret and analyse, the better your chance to guide the task into the future.
The HR cockpit on autopilot
While moving into autopilot mode is simple and easy for both pilots and business leaders, it is dangerous – highlighting the benefits of warning signs on the HR dashboard. Much like the instruments of your plane, the HR dashboard will illustrate weak areas and pinpoint problems before they escalate. As such, you can take action before you have to make that Mayday call.
Staying in control is vital whether you want to land a plane or run an enterprise, however, this isn’t so easy without the right instruments, data and skills. To learn how to fly your business with confidence, feel free to get in touch with the crew at EmployeeConnect today.