Over the last five years, we have surveyed approximately 620,000 employees working in the energy industry. Based on a careful analysis of our normative results, there are a number of notable industry-wide strengths. But there is also a pattern of low scores on items that impact both the employee experience and organizational effectiveness.
Industry Strengths: Scores in the energy industry are notably high in five core areas.
Concerns: Employee attitudes are low in four critical areas.
Implications: For leaders and managers working in the energy sector, there is a lot to be proud of. A strong sense of social responsibility, attention to employee safety, responsiveness and adaptability characterize strengths of this industry. But there are also critical areas of concern, including freedom to speak-up, valuing different views, and involving employees in decision making. Leaders should begin by asking themselves some questions about their organization:
Energy organizations need to balance how things must be done with perspectives from employees of how work could be done. By identifying opportunities where employees are encouraged to share ideas, engage in a dialogue of the merits of the idea, and see the impact of their perspectives, energy companies can foster a culture where employees feel they have a stronger voice and can therefore better contribute towards the creation of a highly engaged and effective organization.