Listen to two executives' perspectives on EX.
Employers are in the midst of one of the most competitive job markets in recent history. In their battle to recruit and retain top talent, they need to prioritize a positive employee experience.
According to Gallup, EX is "the sum of all interactions an employee has with an employer, from prerecruitment to post-exit. It includes everything from major milestones and personal relationships to technology use and the physical work environment."
CTDO recently spoke with two experts to glean insights about the different factors that influence EX and what role talent development can play in improving it.
Bethany Adams
Bethany Adams is associate director of the graduate programs in human resource development at Villanova University. She also hosts the HR Tea podcast.
Adams compares EX to the customer experience. Companies know that the customer experience extends beyond a single use of a product. Instead, she says, it includes interactions while shopping, speed of service, a person's feelings about the brand, and more.
For employees, that translates to their interactions with managers and co-workers, whether they have the technology and tools to do their jobs, and how they feel about the company's culture and values. Additionally, employees are now placing increased importance on issues related to workplace flexibility and career growth opportunities.
Matthew Wride
Matthew Wride is chief operating officer of DecisionWise and co-author of The Employee Experience: How to Attract Talent, Retain Top Performers, and Drive Results.
Wride warns leaders to not confuse employee engagement with EX. He explains that experience is everything that encompasses an organization's culture; engagement is an outcome of EX.
When employees interact with the culture and gain experiences working on their teams, they engage emotionally with the company and their role. Talent development's part in both experience and engagement is to provide professional development through which employees can find their place, path, and purpose.
Read more from CTDO magazine: Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.
