Maybe training camp is worthwhile after all!

Brett Favre started his first game of the pre-season last night and got “sacked” by the defense on his third play from scrimmage. Favre is famous for maneuvering his way out of having to go to training camp because, the logic goes, he is a wily veteran who does not need training camp to get ready for the season.

Favre’s “sacking” got me to thinking about a recent survey The Bailey Group conducted with approximately 20 senior HR executives. When asked what they were most concerned about, a majority said they were worried that employees were at risk of “burning out” because of the demands placed on them the past two years. HR leaders don’t expect that the demands will lessen anytime soon, and wonder how to keep employees engaged and working hard.

It would be great if there were a magic answer to this question. But this is where the training camp analogy comes into play.

Training camp is about relearning the fundamentals. Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, was famous for starting each training camp by introducing his players to a football. While this seems a bit extreme, the analogy of maintaining engagement and productivity by focusing on fundamentals is a good one. The following is a checklist of fundamentals that are critical to maintaining a high performing organization and employee commitment:

1. Does your company have a compelling vision for the future that is stated specifically enough that employees are excited about achieving the future vision?
2. Do you have a high functioning Enterprise Leadership Team that is passionate about leading change?
3. Do leaders understand that their primary job is engaging their team via coaching, effective team meetings, and high performance expectations?
4. Is there a strong partnership between the Enterprise Leadership Team and their direct reports so the vision is effectively cascaded to the rest of the organization?
5. Do you have a vibrant program for High Potential Leaders that promotes cross functional teaming and involvement in key strategic initiatives?

Focusing on the fundamentals of organizational alignment, a high performing enterprise leadership team and a strong emphasis on leader development will help you avoid being “sacked” by low employee productivity and engagement. What would you add to this checklist of fundamentals?