Latest news with #WorkplacePerceptionGapSurvey
CNBC
01-08-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Do this in the first 90 days at your new job to stand out and be more successful, says Walmart exec
How you start a new job can set the tone for your overall experience at a company, including the relationships you build and opportunities that come your way in the future. That's why being strategic about your first 90 days is crucial, says Donna Morris, executive vice president and chief people officer at Walmart. Morris has been in the C-suite for almost 10 years, and has held executive-level roles since 1998. Morris says her success is due, in part, to dedicating the first three months on a new job to communication and clarity — and she recommends that others do the same. "In the first 90 days, do as much as possible to really understand who you'll be working with, how they work and what's expected," says Morris. That means tapping into your interpersonal skills and asking your boss, managers and co-workers not just about their jobs and responsibilities, but who they are and how they show up best at work. Actively listening to their responses can help you be more likable and influential in the workplace, and make you sound smarter, Harvard University associate professor Alison Wood Brooks recently told CNBC Make It. "Foremost, make sure you understand what your job is and what's expected of you. Sounds like a basic [idea], but it's so important," Morris says. "And to go a little bit further, take what you've understood to be what's expected of you, write it out and share it with your manager, and make sure that you're both aligned." Morris' advice comes as workers feel increasingly disconnected from their bosses. Nearly 50% of employees say their bosses don't understand them or their jobs, according to the April 2025 Workplace Perception Gap Survey from HR platform The Predictive Index, which sampled 1,000 workers across different industries, age groups and job levels. The result: 44% of employees said they were overlooked for raises or big, exciting projects because their boss didn't understand the scope of their role, their skills and their work habits, like how they prioritize tasks or organize information. And 48% said their leaders and managers regularly undervalued their contributions, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. This miscommunication could possibly be avoided if employees and bosses discussed expectations, working styles and goals early on. You don't have to have a decades-long career to have these conversations — even interns and associates should go above and beyond to ensure their first 90 days at a new job are productive. This helps you exude confidence and make a good impression, says Morris.
CNBC
17-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Nearly 50% of employees say their boss doesn't understand them or their job—how to fix that, CEO says
A lot of employees feel disconnected from their bosses and managers, and it's putting a real damper on workplace morale. Forty-six percent of employees across the U.S. say their bosses only somewhat or rarely understand their contributions at work, according to the April 2025 Workplace Perception Gap Survey from HR platform The Predictive Index, which sampled 1,000 workers across different industries, age groups and job levels. Nearly half (44%) of surveyed employees said they've been passed over for raises and big projects because someone misconceived their skills or habits at work. And 48% said bosses and managers regularly underestimated their it comes to the root of this misalignment, "I think there are three things to really look at, and that's clarity, investment and connection," says Jennifer Schielke, author, leadership consultant and CEO of Summit Group Solutions, an IT staffing firm. Each new generation entering the workforce brings different perspectives and expectations, sometimes making it difficult for bosses and their employees to see eye-to-eye, Schielke says. And when you don't invest time into building your workplace relationships and professional network, you'll lack the connections you need to feel heard and understood. Both employees and bosses can work to strengthen bonds in the office, says Schielke. Here's how. Your boss isn't a mind-reader, so when you feel misunderstood, overlooked or have questions that haven't been answered, speak up, Schielke says. Try asking your boss or manager for advice instead of feedback to get more authentic, actionable responses, Wharton organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant told CNBC Make It on February 11. If you feel like your boss doesn't understand how hard you work, for example, you might ask something like: "I want to make sure that I'm prioritizing work that matters most to you. Can you help me understand what you think should be top of mind?" Successful people use this tactic to cut through flattery and "potentially demoralizing" critiques, both of which are unhelpful, Grant said. Leaders set the tone for workplace culture, and you'll benefit from going out of your way to make sure your workers feel like they belong, according to Schielke. Consider some short "engagement activities" — a coffee hour, a round of trivia, icebreaker questions before meetings — to learn more about your team and how they like to work, Schielke says. At her own workplace, Schielke ditches her title. Her employees know she's the boss, but she doesn't want the CEO title to intimidate people from having real, authentic conversations with her, she says. "We don't want it to be an environment where people are thinking, 'I can't talk to the CEO,'" says Schielke. "I'm just a person. Titles are important externally, but [in the office], I can sit down and work alongside you."
