Ambode: Workers engagement’ll maximize capacities for improved performance

Estab 4

Dr. Benson Oke

Dr. Benson Oke

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday said consistent workers engagement would help to maximise capacities for improved performance among civil servants.

The governor, who spoke at a two-day seminar, with the theme: “Human Resources Counselling and its Valuable Benefits for Officers of the Lagos State Civil Service,” held in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, was of the view that counselling engagement would help to retain and maximise the capacities of people in organisations such as the Lagos State Public Service.

He said reports had shown that 75% of people voluntarily leaving jobs did not quit their jobs but in fact ‘quit their bosses,” which he said meant that employees left because of ineffective managers and managers with poor leadership skills, adding that “by investing in counselling engagements, an organisation can retain its people and reduce costly recruitment expenses.

According to Ambode, human resources counselling would bring about increase in employee productivity and supervisory effectiveness; retention of valued employees, – less time spent managing poor performers, increased quality in employee performance, improved employee morale and resource base for professional, experienced facilitators of training and staff development programme.

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“Moreover, human resources counselling is a form of leadership development training. Without doubt, high performances have been known to increase in organisations that expose their human capital to counseling and leadership development through training programmes of this nature and I am hopeful that the learning outcomes of this training will translate into more dynamism, effectiveness and efficiency for the public service.

“Furthermore, counselling engagements help nurture future leaders.
Organisations need to be strategic about developing and nurturing future leaders. Without strategy, important roles are often given to the most forward candidates with dominant personalities. Quality appointment is a combination of the right qualities and the right training.

“Counselling engagements also increase employee participation.
We all like to know how we are progressing in our roles, receiving praise when it is well-earned and constructive feedback as necessary. In fact, 43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week compared to only 18% of those with low engagement. Giving feedback is a skill of successful leaders. Through counselling engagements, organisations can teach effective ways to give feedback to motivate and increase the skill level of their people,” he said.

However, the governor assured the participants that the facilitators would devote time and attention to empowering them to design, develop, and implement strategies for assisting counselling participants to build career paths and rewards that would encourage long-term commitments to the Civil Service and fidelity to the lofty ideals of the service.

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