Building a Motivational Workplace Culture: Reinventing Compensation | Rebecca Ahmed | TEDxOneonta

Rebecca Ahmed empowers leaders with three recommendations on how to build a motivational workplace culture through the lens of re-inventing compensation. Her personal stories and data showcase how a company can increase their employee’s energy, productivity, and retention, when both employees and employers bring their values to life. Rebecca Ahmed is an award-winning human resources expert. Ahmed’s experience stems from 10+ years in the hospitality industry, overseeing HR through major mergers and acquisitions, including Pinnacle Entertainment, Allegiant Travel Company, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. She most recently leveraged her expertise to join Savills, an international commercial real estate advisory firm. Additionally, she is CEO of Laugh Thru Life, a professional coaching organization. Ahmed serves as a Board Member for Suited for Change. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@bittergracedc]

As an employee once, this resonates so much. Now as an employer, we apply and embody these principles in our business to create and foster a culture of transparency.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Yes! Love how you express the importance of this from both sides and share how well it works!

[@audreyott61]

Wow. It is amazing how many problems in the work place would be solved if companies simply "walked their talk." Great advice!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Both employees and employers are responsible! If both walk the talk- we can more forward in a positive direction!

[@ramizahmed2096]

Oh ya baby, some great content right here!!!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Love how Gen Z is making impactful changes to the workplace!

[@deborahspigner3827]

These recommendations are spot on. Equity-transparency should drive pay and compensation strategy, win-win!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! 💯

[@rogergordon7958]

Great points! I especially agree with pay transparency from personal experience.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

💯 There’s nothing to hide and we all are learning how to communicate our worth and value!

[@WendyKeller]

The oldest of nine?! Oh wow! I can't imagine. Interesting presentation. Thank you for sharing.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Yes- the oldest of nine. Let's just say, life is always fun and interesting!

[@ashleymctaggart7354]

Such a creative way of reimagining compensation especially in this highly competitive market.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

💯 agree! Such an opportunity for compensation (total rewards) to become a company differentiator!

[@evascott4272]

Rebecca Ahmed : your animated and dynamic presentation makes an important point on job satisfaction, gender wage disparity and employee engagement your knowledge and experience brings real valuable advice

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much for your feedback and for sharing with so many individuals you consult with! There’s a direct correlation to employees compensation and your financial services! Love working together!

[@rachelharmston3683]

The future of compensation! Such an innovative and thoughtful conversation. Bye bye to the taboo of comp transparency.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Yes! Thank you for your feedback and for sharing with your compensation team! Can’t wait to work with them!

[@spiritandspark]

You're a natural born speaker -- great reminders! "I have an amazing mural painted at the employee entrance" So true!!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

😂 the mural! Thank you! 🙏🏾

[@katycannon2357]

Completely agree with this presenter. Insightful take on workplace culture and fair compensation. Well done

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much for your feedback! Excited to see how organizations and leaders create impactful change with these recommendations.

[@DropkickMangan]

No one actually goes into these types of issues - and it's actually so simple. Great stuff Rebecca!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

You are welcome! So glad it resonates!

[@alevsezer-jacobs1818]

I've been talking about this TEDx Talk for days and it's a good one to delve into. Straightforward and to the point, all recommendations resonate but #3 in particular for me. Creating a win/win (compensation) culture in any organizational structure inevitably benefits both sides of the table. If companies want to recruit and retain top talent, a re-evaluating how the compensation structure is "sold" should be a top priority.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! So excited to hear how your organization is embracing each recommendation- especially #3!

[@katieturner5014]

Amazing!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@alexmatheson3736]

I’m so happy my friend sent me this video!! I’m going through similar payment issues at work, thank you for sharing

[@rebeccaeahmed]

You’re so welcome! Please share and use to assist you in communicating with your leader. I’m happy to help in any way!

[@Victatorship]

It’s like the Richter Hope experiment met the Free Money initiative and had a baby. I love it. Very interesting take on how to increase productivity and satisfaction in the work place! Hopefully more companies adopt it! Well done Miss Rebecca.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much! Love your analogy!

[@nen685]

Awesome speaker and great principles on motivation. Will be thinking about these! Thank you

[@rebeccaeahmed]

You are so welcome! Look forward to hearing how this resonates with your organization!

[@kareylarsen6509]

Thank you for talking about this! There are too many shared stories of misery in the workplace! Great to have an expert like you to advocate for this. Hats off to you!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Excited for people to continue to share as we all work together to build a more motivational workplace culture for all employees!

[@burakahmed5422]

All hiring and compensation managers should watch this

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much! 💯agree! The more this is shared, the more inclined they are to jump in and foster innovation and motivation!

[@briankhoury1187]

Great perspective about communicating incentives to develop trust within organizations

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Trust leads to positive energy and productivity!

[@tanjinashapiro3444]

You are amazing and love the Total Rewards concept!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Excited to see how companies and individuals get creative in designing their Total Rewards!

[@kristenkozmary8210]

Great tips on how to keep employees engaged by being transparent and committed to core values. Open lines of communication, fostering employee growth, and transparency at monthly town halls are some of the ways that my company is “walking the walk” and I’m so thankful for that!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! 💯 and so glad it resonates so well!

[@benjaminaubry926]

Excellent présentation Rebecca! Very well put together, straight to the point with great examples! Congrats!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@WIlliamTaylorScott]

Great points, well-delivered, as usual, Rebecca! I’ve always loved your energy, enthusiasm, and overall vibe! Thank you, for sharing and spreading these ideas, stories, and strategies. Leaders who choose to connect with people on a human level, creating emotional connections with each individual team member, will absolutely see just how valuable those people will become to their organizations. Keep going!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much Taylor! This is literally how we can evolve organizations and individuals to love what they do and know their worth and create impact. This energy leads to “leading with hospitality”!

[@MD-jg8cj]

Unbelievably succinct and incredibly relevant to workplace cultural discussions right now. So important to normalize and socialize this topic! Thank you for this.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

You are very welcome and thank you for your feedback and sharing this innovative approach with your organization!

[@pathpurposepodcast5943]

Excellent talk on a vital subject. People need to be treated like people and not cogs on a wheel. Trust, respect, and accountability around providing an honest value prop is how companies will retain talent going forward and we an live a more fulfilled life as we continuously grow, learn and develop. Great work, Rebecca!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much! That is the goal and this is one step in the right direction! Continue to share broadly so we can create change!

[@AlenLV]

Great video with some amazing insights! Thank you for sharing Rebecca.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

You are welcome! So glad you found the insights so valuable!

[@dianebarbieri3251]

Totally agree on this subject not spoken enough about ! So well done !

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much! The more we speak about it, the more we can get to a place where Total Rewards are transparent and personalized and motivate versus de-energize the workplace!

[@GavinGoorjian]

This is such a great talk and presents an excellent and exciting model for the future of the workplace. Definitely worth the watch - a great reminder to employees to always know your worth and for employers to show them their worth if they want increased productivity, profits and a positive workplace. The speaker shows with several examples how this virtuous cycle can really revolutionize the workplace for future generations!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! 💯 It takes both the employee and employer to know their worth and showcase their support and talent. The positive energy this system can create directly ties to an increase in productivity and engagement.

[@carneycoaching]

Excellent information and examples to maximize your employees efforts, productivity, and positive attitude at the workplace

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Yes- there is a direct correlation to energy and productivity!

[@ryandisalvo2801]

WOW! Well spoken with phenomenal points. Fantastic video

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@tracywest8037]

Great presentation! Definitely made me think about our compensation strategy differently.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! You’re a Big Fish in gaming! Can’t wait to see how it’s adopted!!

[@janiepalomino7056]

Great presentation and recommendations!! I totally agree with you on full transparency. I found that with my current employer they are showing the value of pay for performance as well as a career pathing and development. If communicated correctly, compensation education can increase team member engagement. Well done, Rebecca!!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much, Janie! You have been instrumental to compensation models, and your amplification is so important! Thank you!

[@ThereWillBeTypos]

Great talk. I dig it and hope to implement some of these recommendations.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Great! Happy to assist in any way!

[@blazingheavens5362]

Straightforward and learned a lot, thank you!!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

You’re welcome and thank you for your feedback!

[@sophiazhorne857]

Incredibly insightful, wow! Rebecca is a true talent and is so easy to listen to!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@BaschTyler]

Incredible. Worth the watch!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much! Please share broadly! That’s how we can create impact!

[@Letsbrealaboutit]

Beautiful insight, and well touched on subjects.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much!

[@chelseaellisbloch8810]

Great presentation and very powerful and important information! Love your candidness of being a former disgruntled employee and how that affected your work and having to learn your worth. Straight, honest and to the points!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Authenticity is key!

[@alexandrasacani2795]

Powerful and moving! Now more then ever we need to keep these principles in mind when building and maintaining a workforce. Looking forward to many more speeches!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! Thank you for amplifying the message!

[@jarrodridenour6294]

Loved your elocution and delivery....made it so easy to follow and understand! Great story too.. Very relatable

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@mortgagemcgarry5820]

Great information, I think pay transparency is important in the work place

[@rebeccaeahmed]

So important! It’s key in fostering communication.

[@jenniferrake5606]

Wonderful perspective. Love your employee "energy" reference, which captures attitude, motivation and so much more. Great call out on compensation being tied to honesty and trust.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! There’s a direct correlation to energy and engagement! We’re all working towards the same goal! Thank you for your feedback!

[@natalieiannone2342]

Wonderful information. The power in values, transparency, trust, and something as simple as asking can make such an impact in organizations. Great presentation!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! 💯 agree!

[@lancepeters8497]

Very interesting! Worth the listen for sure!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@rianmcevoy4276]

Super hawt! Inspired? More like life changing! Great talk

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you! That’s what we’re working towards! Life changing!

[@dylangarrett1845]

I experienced a similar situation in the past as a “disgruntled employee”. I think things would’ve been a lot different if my employer had this mind!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Something to share! It takes communication on both sides to create impactful and effective change!

[@cadennovikoff]

Love this content! This speech is amazing!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much!

[@jacobgomez7197]

Excellent!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@lxnighthawkxl]

Great talk and truly inspiring!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you so much!

[@SantaCluas]

Loved this

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@blakefrischknecht9613]

Wow! That was amazing!

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you!

[@perlabuenrostro8017]

I loved it! Clear, bold, courageous. Congratulations on your TedTalk! What if you add a gender perspective to your next talk? What you describe happens more to women. Thanks to Burak for sharing your work with me :D

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you for your feedback! Yes- women and people of color are most impacted. I’m happy to share some speeches I do specifically for women!

[@IronC4]

Employees should know their worth. Hopefully employers will also try to know their employees worth.

[@rebeccaeahmed]

It takes both the employee and employer to know their worth and create open lines of communication that are transparent and personalized. Thank you for your feedback and always happy to assist with any questions you might have in the space!

[@jradisrael6166]

I was go show this to my team but they all will ask for a raise

[@sourapple0511]

💯💪

[@gagepintar8395]

Walk the talk

[@rebeccaeahmed]

💯 - that’s one of my top values!

[@seanjenne3381]

Wow that was awesome. Learned a lot. Plus she’s a dime ;)

[@rebeccaeahmed]

Thank you for both compliments! 😂