RfO Bridging the Value Gap Toolkit

This toolkit concentrates on:

• The direct relationship between manager and worker to close the value gap; and
• The organisational culture that will enable those relationships to flourish

We recognise that feeling valued isn’t exclusive to direct line management relationships. All people management activity impacts feeling valued, from clear job descriptions, appropriate objectives; effective training and performance feedback; transparent and fair reward, to progression and change arrangements. However, because it’s in the proximity of the direct relationship between manager and worker that most good or most harm can be done, we are focusing on that.
Independent research has shown that feeling valued is one of the top drivers for employee engagement, which is proven to have a positive impact on productivity[i]. All individuals at every level need to be accountable for their own engagement, but organisations must encourage a culture of sustainable employee engagement in order for their employees to flourish and their business to thrive[ii]. 
This toolkit is based on a flow of behaviour that progresses positive and nurturing working relationships (see Fig. 3). It works from a ‘hierarchy of value’ in which the more developed the working relationship, the greater the benefit the individuals and the business. Our toolkit has simple guidelines for successful engagement between individuals, line managers and senior leaders that can help to close this value gap.