 Business success often hinges on the delicate balance between the growth and satisfaction of employees and the performance of the company. However, there is an inherent misalignment between the interests of individual employees and those of the wider organization. By understanding and embracing this tension, managers can find creative solutions, leading to surprising outcomes that benefit both parties in terms of higher job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity levels.  Â
Consider the employee’s perspective, specifically around learning and engagement over time, represented in the graph below. The curve begins steeply, reflecting the excitement and learning that occurs during the early years of a new job (downward curve). This period, rich in novelty and challenge, fuels a basic human need for engagement and learning (and results in higher future earning potential). As soon as the curve starts leveling off, it may be time for workers to seek new learning opportunities and challenges in another company?Â
By contrast, the employer will be more concerned with performance. The worker’s output is best represented by an upward curve, as it starts low and increases over time as they master their role. The early years of employment are viewed by the business as an investment in building a worker’s competence, while the later years are when that investment pays dividends. Â
A profit-seeking enterprise will naturally want to invest as little as possible upfront and reap the rewards for as long as possible, but this can create tension with employees. While the beginning of their job is the most invigorating part, for the employer this period can be seen as a cost, owing to lower individual performance. By contrast, once an employee has reached full productivity, their enjoyment of work usually tails off, but this is the payoff period for the employer.  Â
Of course, workers can find security and fulfillment in their job if they feel competent and secure – even after years in the role. And forward-thinking companies understand the importance of nurturing their employees over the longer term, if they can keep hold of them; it increases motivation, which then drives productivity, enhances job satisfaction, and promotes creativity and innovation. But the challenge for managers is finding the right balance between the priorities of staff and those of the wider organization. Â
Take the case of Susan, a high-performing sales manager at a large corporation. After six years, Susan’s engagement began to wane and she considered making a career change. However, her company was reluctant to lose a valuable asset with years of experience. The solution was to allow Susan to take on new responsibilities alongside her core role. This was a win-win because it gave Susan the challenge she craved while the company retained her expertise. Â
This scenario underscores the importance of managers acknowledging and embracing the tension between individual employee growth and company performance. By doing so, both parties can collaborate to find innovative solutions that satisfy their respective needs. Â
In the early days in a new role, organizations should try to help accelerate a new joiner’s performance. One approach is to offer on-the-job training with an outgoing mentor. This serves to help them get up and running sooner and is also a way to keep the departing employee engaged. Â
In addition, managers can create a culture of continuous learning, or a commitment to ongoing development, by encouraging learning on a daily basis to keep excitement levels up even as employees mature in their role. By promoting a culture that values personal growth and adaptation, companies can transform potential conflicts into a driving force for long-term success, for both employee and employer. Â
The tug-of-war between employee growth and company performance is an inherent aspect of modern business. Rather than avoiding this tension, organizations and their employees should embrace it, using the friction as a catalyst for creative solutions that benefit both parties. Â
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