Washington: Asking workers to reflect on their organisation`s history can help build a committed workforce, according to a new American research.The study, titled "Company, country, connections: Counterfactual origins increase organizational commitment, patriotism and social investment," was conducted by researchers from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
It will be published in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science.
Author Adam Galinsky, Morris and Alice Kaplan professor of ethics and decision in management, said: "Institutions that can communicate a compelling historical narrative often inspire a special kind of commitment among employees. It is this dedication that directly affects a company’s success and is critical to creating a strong corporate legacy."
Galinsky, along with Kellogg professors Hal Ersner-Hershfield and Brayden King and Haas professor Laura Kray explored how reflecting counterfactually on an institution’s origins - that is, thinking about "what if" scenarios - can have a bearing on employees`` actions and commitment.
Their findings show that when employees are asked to think about an alternative universe where their company did not come into being, they come to see their company``s current circumstance and future trajectory in a more positive light.
This "near-loss" mentality increases their commitment toward the institution and overall morale.
The researchers point to FedEx as an example.
The courier service successfully positions its origin story by leading people to reflect on what would have happened had FedEx founder Fred Smith chosen not to fly to a Las Vegas casino one fateful night in 1973 to help his troubled company meet payroll.
King said: "The result for FedEx is a deep employee appreciation and the recognition by top magazines as one of the best companies to work for.
"The key to generating these sentiments is reminding employees how things could have turned out differently for their company."
Lead author Ersner-Hershfield said: "Businesses can better position themselves to prosper when they clearly articulate their origin stories to employees.
"In order for companies to effectively communicate their narrative, they should ask themselves whether there were key meetings, events or people during the economic crisis, without which the company’s outlook would have taken a turn for the worse. Focusing on how things could have turned out differently fosters a positive view of the current circumstances among employees and thus generates an increased sense of commitment."
Ersner-Hershfield added: "Our study demonstrates that this process is a universal one, applying also to countries and personal connections."
According to Galinsky, these results suggest "that this link is an endemic aspect of the human mind: Ruminating on origin stories and reflecting back on what might have happened rather than what actually took place leads to increased commitment."
ANI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.