NOV has management that refuses to change their ways in order to improve efficiency. The lack of effective leadership is ridiculous. Reading posts of what seems like hopeful people that would like GE to buy NOV (to get them out the shit hole they are in); well, management is out the door indeed! leadership must change in order to appease the new generations; I.e., gen y. Different gen groups demand different needs in the workplace as the decades leave us. Yet, NOV has only succeeded in managing to stay in the "manager" and "employee" type environment. You have to think about your employees! It's "coach" and "team." The future will bring another theory for effective leadership. However, for now...this generation of employees are motivated by different factors because their values and influences are not the same as their predecessors. NOV believes that an employee of Generation Y is self motivated. No. Get over it and get with the times; this is me hitting you with reality in the face so you can improve YOUR business and profits. We need not to worry about why they can't be self motivated; it is how how they grew up and wait until the next generation comes along (the role of the manager will have to change then as well to meet their needs). Generation Y values their personal and family lives; they must have this balance! Give it to them! You will give them incentive and in turn gain productivity. They don't have to be there 12-14 hours a day to be perceived as an excellent employee; this is such poor and unwise mentality. In fact, why would management measure based on the amount of hours worked? It's quality vs. quantity. A person that works 12 hours a day versus a person who works 8 doesn't mean he or she is more productive than the 8 hr worker. There are other factors that employees should be measured on. Don't be ridiculous NOV managers!! Generation Y is goal oriented; managers must keep them driven and challenged. This is YOUR responsibility as a manager in today's time!!! Generation Y is also diverse; 1 in 3 is a minority; think about this, and compare this ratio to employment back in the 80s. Be considerate of these changes! What managers at NOV don't get is that Generation Y LOVES change; with clear standard and expectations, gen y is driven by change. Unlike, you - NOV manager. Clearly, the role of a manager should be evolving to keep up with time! You can't expect increase in productivity, if managers aren't changing their mindset and ways of managing their employees. Are you establishing clear performance standards? Are you measuring exactly by these standards (and not just once a year!!)? Remember that gen y is focused in the moment; they look for instant gratification!!! Don't fall short on this!!! If you do, it's YOUR fault if they start to under perform. Gen Y grew up in daunting times, so they really feel they can make a difference. Use this to your advantage! Stop sitting around on your ass...thinking all you( and your employees) have to do is show up early and leave late...to reflect a top performing employee. Oh well, guess with foolish management around, who refuse to change, you can keep getting away with it I suppose.
Don't claims effective leadership when you don't do shit to empower your employees!!!! And don't blame them for their shortfalls; blame YOURSELF and lack of talent and skills.