This summer, Steve Pickering, the ‘unorthodox’ CEO of independent bed retail chain Sussex Beds, attended the CIPD Festival of Work – where he encountered a distinct shortage of business leaders …
It's the second time I've visited this annual event, which, among the 200 or so exhibitors, features seven themed presentation stages where speakers address the most pressing business challenges and workplace opportunities.
I came away with pages of notes, thoughts and ideas covering workplace employee experience, EDI, leadership and management, learning and development, employee engagement and wellbeing.
The event was packed with HR directors, people managers and professionals. However, from my observation, there seemed to be a distinct lack of CEOs and managing directors. Why?
Time and again, questions from the audience enquired how best they should communicate ideas and initiatives back to their boards or senior leaders. My thought was, why weren't they there in the first place? People are business, business is people. You need your people – you need them actively engaged.
Employee engagement is essential for business success because it creates a positive cycle that benefits every aspect of your organisation. Engaged employees are more productive, deliver higher-quality work, and stay with the company longer, which reduces costly turnover and attracts top talent. They provide better customer service, contribute innovative ideas, and collaborate more effectively, all of which directly improve financial performance through increased revenue and profitability.
Most importantly, engagement is contagious. When employees feel valued and connected to their work, they create a positive workplace culture that reinforces high performance and makes your business more competitive and sustainable in the long term.
This is why, for me, this event is one of the most important in my annual calendar – learning and spending quality time with my incredible people team.
CEOs and MDs – when did you last attend a people-focused event? What's stopping you?
Discover more of Steve’s thoughts here, or listen to his podcast, An Unorthodox CEO
