How to Create and Maintain a Successful ESOP Committee March 30, 2012 Linshuang Lu Consultant, Praxis Consulting Group © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Praxis Consulting Group About Us 2 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Agenda • Building an Ownership Culture • Communication Committees Overview • Strategies for Addressing Typical Challenges • Communication Committee Activity Ideas 3 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Introductions • Organization • Role • Committee status • What’s one exciting thing that’s happened with your ESOP or communications committee this past year? • What’s one hope or opportunity relating to the ESOP or communications committee that you have for this next year? 4 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What Does the Research Say? Ownership Improved Performance Participation 5 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ownership Culture Employees at all levels: • Think, feel and act like co-owners. • Take responsibility for their actions individually and collectively for the success of the company. • Participate effectively to improve company performance 6 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Example of Leadership Competencies (King Arthur Flour) 1. Leads change 2. Thinks & acts strategically 3. Wows customers 4. Drives accountability 5. Develops self and others 6. Communicates effectively 7. Excels as team member/ leader 8. Models positive attitude 7 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Building an Ownership Culture Alignment of behaviors Education Communication Participation Incentives Foundation: Leadership vision 8 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Big Picture • Communication Committees are not required by law or most ESOP plans • You have tremendous flexibility • Key questions: – What is your vision for sharing ownership through the ESOP? – What role will the communications committee play in supporting that vision? • Everything else flows from these decisions 9 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Small Group Discussion • What are your ESOP communication committees’ mission and goals? • How does your committee play a role in building an ownership culture and driving behaviors? If you don’t have a committee: • What might your committee’s mission and goals be? • How would you like your committee to contribute to building an ownership culture and driving behaviors? 10 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Communications vs. Other Types of Committees Communication Fiduciary and Administrative • Responsibilities defined by company leadership • Responsibilities related to decision-making and administration of the ESOP Plan itself • Accountable to company leadership • Common mission include employee education, communication, motivation and employee input mechanism • Duties regulated by ERISA; Committee ultimately accountable to ERISA standards • May be a named fiduciary in the plan document or take on fiduciary responsibilities 11 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Individual Reflection • What’s working well with your committee? What are its strengths? • If you don’t have a committee: what’s working well at your company? What are its strengths? • What is your biggest challenge right now? OR, what’s your biggest opportunity? • What might be causing the challenges that you are experiencing? 12 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Small Group Discussion • Share your major challenges • Identify top three or four challenges • Be prepared to report out 13 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Challenges – Report Out from Discussions • Access to Computers and Multi-Location • Participation from Multi-Locations • Rumor and Gossip – False Information • Equal Voice – Management/Employees • After Start – What needs to get communicated • How to get started • How to keep fresh ideas 14 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Common Challenges • Unclear mission and purpose • Limited leadership support • Limited resources (time and money) • Inappropriate structure (member selection, leadership selection, subcommittees) • Team dynamics • Lack of new ideas • Multi-site company • Diverse workforce 15 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rapid Brainstorm • In your small groups, pick a challenge. • Brainstorm ideas about how to address the challenge 16 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Elements for an Effective Communication Committee • Mission • Structure – Membership, selection, representation, terms, roles and management liaison – Subcommittees • Committee member education – Technical – Meeting skills, team building and group dynamics • • • • Leadership support Resources (Usually time and money) Planning Continuous improvement 17 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Typical Period Planning Process • Planning Retreat – Review directives from leadership – Brainstorm and prioritize – Develop a plan and budget for the 1st 12-18 months • Mid-stream: implementation, regular monitoring, support, readjustment • Towards the end – Evaluation – Plan & budget for next period 18 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Other Strategies • Evaluation from the committee, from leadership, from employees • Mission/goals/charter revisit with senior leadership • Clear expectations in committee member contribution with support from supervisors 19 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Other Strategies • Dedicated planning time • Rotation of members and leadership • Visits to other ESOP companies and ESOP-related conferences • Brainstorming exercises • Themes and traditions 20 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Building an Ownership Culture Alignment of behaviors Education Communication Participation Incentives Foundation: Leadership vision 21 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Education • ESOP Education – – – – – Purpose Transaction Eligibility, allocation, vesting and distribution rules Role of trustee Share price valuation • Business Education – How to read a financial statement – Link between actions and profit and share price – How do different departments contribute to the company • New Hire Orientation – To the ESOP and the business – To the culture of the company 22 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Communication • Company performance information • Annual statement training and share price meeting • Regular staff meeting updates • Updates on the company’s direction and long-term goals • Communication between departments 23 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Participation • • • • Suggestion box Problem-solving/task force responsibilities Employee survey/assessment Facilitation and management of town hall meetings • Facilitating employee involvement in strategic planning or corporate values • Regular gauge of employee questions and concerns and “temperature” • Drafting rights and responsibilities 24 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Incentives • Be sure people have “line of sight” from their own actions to goal achievement • Recognition/Awards • Alignment of values with incentives • Feedback/input on quality of life, work/life balance and benefits 25 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Other • Legislation/External Advocacy • External Marketing 26 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Other Resources The ESOP Committee Guide 3rd Edition Published by the National Center for Employee Ownership With articles by Jim Bado, Stephen Clifford, Dave Fitz-Gerald, Brian A. Inniger, Camille Kerr, Kellee Kroll, Linshuang Lu, Christopher Mackin, Liz McKeever, Alexander Moss, Tracey Myers, The Phelps County Bank ESOP Committee, Loren Rodgers, Corey Rosen, Virginia Vanderslice, and Jack Veale Available on nceo.org and esopassociation.org ESOP Association Annual Awards for Communications Excellence (AACE) Compilation of past winners sample materials and activities http://www.esopassociation.org/resources/resources_AACE .asp 27 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Praxis Consulting Group To learn more about us, please visit our website at praxisCG.com or contact us. Contact: Linshuang Lu Consultant (267) 283-1115 [email protected] Praxis Consulting Group assists organizations in developing high performing workplaces by aligning organizational leadership, strategy and culture. 28 © 2012 Praxis Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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