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Douglas Battista: Corporate Culture an Important Aspect in Career Happiness

In the world of business, no two companies are alike. Even if they do the exact same thing, working for one may be drastically different than working for the other, says Douglas Battista. The differences often come down to company culture, which has a more significant impact on your overall job satisfaction than you likely give it credit for.

According to Douglas Battista, company, or corporate, culture is best described as the personality of a business. It’s comprised of its environment, structure, values, and expectations. A high stress environment may lead to unhappiness at work and at home while a company-wide attitude that promotes working together to resolve problems often creates a more positive working experience.

Company culture matters at all levels, says Douglas Batista. Some people thrive in a traditional professional environment where there is a defined set of leaders and everyone is expected to work within their role. Others are more productive in a company with an open door policy, where ideas are encouraged and the company acts as one big team. Understanding a company’s culture is essential if you are looking for a new position.

Douglas Batista explains that there are many ways to get a feel for a company’s culture well before sending your resume. Their website, and specifically the “About” page holds a wealth of information, and will often describe the company’s values and offer clues to its corporate structure. Companies like Glassdoor can also give you a glimpse into your future working environment.

Finding a new job involves more than just matching your skill set to available positions, asserts Douglas Battista. If you don’t take the time to make sure you are a good fit for the company, including its environment, you likely won’t be happy, and that can have a negative effect on your career.

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Douglas Battista on the Role of the Board of Directors

Douglas Battista helps demystify the role the board of directors plays and explains what, exactly, this elite group of leaders does.

Q: What is the board of directors?

Douglas Battista: A board of directors is a governing body of business leaders who help make important decisions and set a company on a path toward success.

Q: What is the most important responsibility of the board of directors?

Douglas Battista: The board of directors evaluates candidates and selects a company’s general manager or CEO. This person is then responsible for selecting other key leadership positions. It’s exponentially important that the general manager or CEO is the right person for the job. Typically, the board of directors must make a unanimous decision based on the individual’s business experience, education, and track record of success with the industry.

Q: Why does the board of directors host regular meetings?

Douglas Battista: This group of people must maintain continual communication in order to review the company’s processes and make any changes to its governance system that may be needed in order to operate more efficiently.

Q: What are the different types of governance models?

Douglas Battista: As a group of individuals with the goal of operating specific company, the board of directors will naturally evolve to fit its company’s culture. However, there are four basic models of governance: manager focus, proactive board, geographic representation, and community representation. A manager-focused board elects an individual who is responsible for most decisions with the rest of the board serving simply as advisors. A proactive board is one that always maintain a unified front; essentially, the board speaks with a singular voice that makes all decisions together. A geographic representation model is typically comprised of individuals chosen by different legs of a company and is usually a larger group. A community representation board is one designed to represent members of the community; example would be a school board.

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Douglas Battista | Yoga Increases Awareness of Self

Douglas Battista shares his thoughts on yoga and its positive effects on the workplace.

When most people think of yoga, they probably picture a very trim, bodysuit-clad man or woman in an impossible pose. Not Douglas Battista. The C-suite executive says more and more “everyday people” are using yoga as a way to bring balance to their busy lives.

Self-management

According to Douglas Battista, yoga allows the practitioner to center his or her thoughts for a few moments. With practice, this inner grounding lasts throughout the day and the yogi soon begins to remain calm and collected in all circumstances. This is beneficial from a professional standpoint, as it takes a rational and clear-thinking mind to lead well.

Self-awareness

Another related benefit of yoga is learning the ability to be self-aware. Douglas Battista describes this as living in the moment and knowing how to simply enjoy each breath, sound, and sensation–things such as colors and smells that we tend to overlook in the hustle and bustle of the day. At work, being able to slow things down offers time for observation and it’s only then that real problem-solving can begin.

Changing attitudes

In yoga, we must learn poses. Many are difficult and beginners may stumble and fall, much like a child learning to walk, says Douglas Battista. Learning yoga is a process and takes time to master. Once a person begins to understand that failure is a natural part of the growth process on the mat, they can transfer that attitude into life, both at home and at work. Feeling less intimidated by failure can help us appreciate the small victories even more and builds a solid foundation for further learning.

Listening

Yogis understand the power of active listening. One popular practice is to have participants split up into groups of two and really listen, without interruption, to one another for 10 minutes. Learning how to listen without questioning the speaker is a trait of some of the most successful business managers, says Douglas Battista.

If you are interested in taking yoga classes, check out your local fitness center for class times. Not only will yoga help strengthen your body, it will keep your mind sharp for the day ahead.

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Douglas Battista Shares Tips on Reducing Travel-Related Back Pain

Douglas Battista knows a thing or two about how to navigate airports, take advantage of frequent flyer programs, and when to opt for First Class over Coach. But one thing Battista never really paid attention to was how travel affected his back. After realizing his spine had taken a hard hit after a long trip, Battista began to pay attention to actions that reduced his pain. Here are his best tips on banishing back pain.

Q: Luggage is heavy and there is no way around carting it through the airport. What are some ways to reduce its impact on your spine?

Douglas Battista: One thing I have found to be very effective is simply keeping my heavy carry-ons close to my body while walking. It also helps to switch shoulders every now and then.

Q: How can I support my back on a flight if the seats aren’t reinforced?

Douglas Battista: If possible, bring a small lumbar support pillow on board with you. You can even buy a self-inflatable one to minimize space in your bags. When you simply don’t have the room for that, wear a light jacket. You can remove it and roll it into a support once you’re seated.

Q: How often should I move around the cabin on lengthy trips?

Douglas Battista: Whenever the seatbelt light is off, strive to at least stand up every half an hour or so your spine has a chance to flex.

Q:  I drive a lot for work. How can I prevent back strain on long hauls?

Douglas Battista: This one is a bit trickier but I would first suggest figuring out which type of vehicle is most comfortable and requesting that type in advance when you have to utilize a rental. Otherwise, on long interstate trips, switch between manual and cruise control to allow both of your feet time to rest evenly, which will take pressure off your spine.

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Disruptive Technology and Its Impact | Douglas Battista

Something likely to play a major role in the economy and quality-of-life across the globe is the impact of disruptive technologies. Disruptive technology is that which enters the marketplace and drastically changes the way people do business, according to Douglas Battista.

Technology evolves quickly and technological advancements continually change the way we live, work, and do business. Douglas Battista points out that there are a number of emerging technologies that have the potential to create a great disruption in today’s business environment. These include:

5D printers

5D printers go beyond 3-D shape printing capabilities, explains Douglas Battista. 5D printers are capable of sharing a product’s blueprint instantly with anyone anywhere in the world. Currently, the art, medical, apparel, and automobile industries are utilizing 5D print technology, which allows for local control of particle orientation and composition.

Cloud computing

Anyone who’s ever recovered an image from a cell phone from a remote cloud drive understands the power of cloud computing, says Douglas Battista. Remote file storage, backup, and recovery is imperative to banking, education, and IT services.

Advanced robotics

Douglas Battista points out that humans have used robots for different tasks for a number of decades. However, the increasing capabilities of robotics simply can’t be denied. High-precision mechanics allow humans to complete detailed tasks, such as those relating to healthcare and aerospace, without fear of human-oriented complications, such as shaky hands or an inability to reach difficult spaces.

Autonomous automobile technology

Autonomous or near-autonomous vehicles are an emerging technology that has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives each year, improve the usage of the current infrastructure of large municipalities, and ensure a faster and more efficient means of transportation. Douglas Battista notes that drones are an example of an early autonomous technology that can be used for everything from crop surveying to package delivery.

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Douglas Battista Discusses Pros and Cons of Going Public

For many SMBs, the initial sell of public stock or initial public offering (IPO), is a huge deal, says Douglas Battista, a business expert and executive at Jenny Craig. But why is it so important? Here, Battista answers a few questions about the ups – and downs – of selling stock on the open market.

Q: How do potential investors view a public company, as opposed to a privately held business?

Douglass Battista: A public company has access to greater funds in the form of stocks, which are not limited to a one-time sale. Many investors look favorably upon businesses in the public markets because it is easier to attribute a value to said company in case of a buyout or acquisition.

Q: What are some ways a business owner can leverage an IPO to his or her favor?

Douglas Battista: Aside from raising capital, an IPO can serve as a well-publicized marketing event. The IPO may be advertised and, if done effectively, will create buzz around the products or services the company offers.

Q: Do business owners lose complete control over their company after an IPO?

Douglas Battista: Typically, once a company goes public, founders and initial investors lose control over the day to day decision making processes. Management additionally must begin to cater to a new group of investors, who will likely insist that quarterly earnings estimates be met.  

Q: What happens if stock shares tank after an IPO?

Douglas Battista: When an IPO backfires, it serves as a negative publicity event. There have been countless IPOs that debuted well, then bottomed out with immediate losses. This makes investors wary of pumping money back into the company later on.

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Douglas Battista on Managing a Remote Team

Managing a remote team is becoming much more commonplace in today's workforce. But in order to be an effective manager of a virtual team, one must be willing to recognize that they cannot guide and communicate the same way as they would to a team located under one roof. Today, Douglas Battista answers a few questions about what it takes to build a dispersed team that operates as one.

Q: How do people manage teams that are working virtually in different cities or even countries?

Douglas Battista: This is a really good question. The first step is to find great people that can handle working remotely. Not everyone can. The second important step is to find tools such as Skype, Google Drive, HipChat, etc. to keep every member of your team on the same page.

Q: What are the benefits of a remote team?

Douglas Battista: Having a remote team gives you access to better talent. When you can expand the search to include the entire country or planet, it will help you find the right employees more quickly.

Q: What are potential setbacks of a remote team?

Douglas Battista: The biggest setback is the difficulty to communicate: Different time zones and schedules make it more difficult to ensure that everyone is available in an urgent situation.

Q: How is communication typically handled when working with remote teams?

Douglas Battista: Communication with employees must increase. The perception is that you’ll communicate less with virtual employees, but managers actually need to make a conscious effort to communicate more with remote employees as well as facilitate communication between team members.

Q: What final advice do you have for someone who is new at managing a remote team?

Douglas Battista: Don’t forget that members on your team are humans wired to connect with others. You have to grow as a team to continue being a team. 

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Q & A with Douglas Battista on Being Responsible

Q: Does it take courage to be responsible?

Douglas Battista: Yes, it absolutely does.  Assuming responsibility requires courage because I then become responsible for the outcomes and can’t lay the blame for my action or inaction elsewhere.

Q: I find myself tending to blame an event or even other people for my failures.  In what ways does this hurt me?

Q: One of the main excuses I’ve heard other people use for their irresponsibility is lack of time. Is this excuse unacceptable?

Douglas Battista: Let’s face it; we are all limited to 24 hours in a day, regardless if you’re the president or the janitor. We need to take responsibility for the time we have and what we do with it.  Ask yourself, are you being effective every single day and responsible for what you have to do or are you full of excuses much of the time?

Q: What are the benefits of being responsible?

Douglas Battista: You will feel better about yourself because you get stuff done. Other people will start looking at you differently as well because when you say you’re going to do something, you get it done. More opportunities will come your way because people will know they can count on you and you’re no longer full of excuses. By “owning it” rather than deflecting, you also maintain power to do something about the challenges facing you each day.

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Douglas Battista on Establishing Core Leadership Skills

For the leaders of today’s successful businesses, the ability to motivate people and encourage team unity is essential to everyday operations, according to business professional Douglas Battista. He has spent much of his career studying the various components of human resources and learned valuable tools for building a quality staff able to perform a wide range of tasks. Douglas Battista continues to regularly attend educational seminars and read professional articles that serve as critical resources when developing plans and programs for his own work.

By encouraging training and development opportunities, a business leader can feel secure in his or her employees’ opinions and suggestions, says Douglas Battista.

Empowering people to perform at the best of their ability may require time and patience, but the rewards are worth it. In order to help people come together as a team, Battista suggests recruiting individuals with complementary skills in order to create an efficient system for internal communication.

First and foremost among his routine duties, Douglas Battista inspires employees to think independently and stay motivated even during challenging experiences. Those who are unable to buy into such a mission should be replaced. While at times the media may have reported management personnel intimidating employees with their power or job title, Douglas Battista promotes the opportunity to develop an approachable environment. Allowing company employees to speak up and share their points of view is important for facilitating dialogue and producing a strategic conclusion that fits the particular situation, says Battista.

Successful leaders are highly adept at making decisions in an efficient manner without disrupting the daily rhythms of an organization. Douglas Battista has worked diligently to perfect his communication skills and issue performance expectations that are in line with the company’s mission statements and core values.

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Q & A with Doug Battista – The Current Landscape of Company Retirement Plans

Q: What are the most noticeable differences between a defined benefit retirement plan and a defined contribution retirement plan?

Doug Battista:  The two most common types of employer-sponsored retirement plans are Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit.  A “Defined Contribution” is one in which the employer contributes an amount on a regular basis to the employee, typically as a percentage match. The most common approach in a defined contribution plan is for an employer to sponsor a 401K or 403B plan in which the employee must contribute a percentage of his/her earnings. The employer will then provide a match on the employee’s contribution.

Q: What investment options are included in a defined contribution plan?

Doug Battista: In the defined contribution approach, the employee is provided with a number of investment options, typically mutual funds, that can be used for retirement savings. In essence, the employee is then responsible for his/her retirement savings, not the employer. 

Q: Can you expand upon the Defined Contribution plan?

Doug Battista: The Defined Contribution plan, often times referred to in the U.S. as a “pension,” is one in which the employer uses a carefully developed formula, that includes factors such as age, earnings history and length of service, to determine the retirement savings of the employee.   In a Defined Contribution Plan, the employer assumes more responsibility, and more risk, as they are responsible for investing so that the retirement money is available for each employee upon their retirement.

Q: In the future, would you think that defined benefit retirement plans are going to be a common fixture in U.S. businesses and corporations?

Doug Battista:  The trend is towards defined contribution plans and away from defined benefit (pension) plans.  Over the last decade, employers have taken a cautious attitude towards pensions and expressed concern about their liability. Many experts predict this trend will continue in the coming years.

Q: What differences do you think we will see in the future?

Doug Battista: Companies across the U.S. are eliminating, freezing, and sometimes offering buyouts to reduce their defined benefit plan liabilities.  Taking a pension plan off the corporate books removes volatility from the balance sheet; it’s a trend that appears to be accelerating.

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Douglas Battista Champions the Value of Hard Work

"Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime." This old proverb could not be truer, affirms Douglas Battista, President of North America Field Operations for Jenny Craig’s North America business. Hard work sometimes seems to be a dying art form that we are failing to teach our children, notes Battista, who believes that his father’s influence provided him the tools needed to focus on a lifetime of career goals. Nothing comes easy, and behind every success are hours of plain hard work, says Douglas Battista, whose climb up the corporate ladder was not without bumps in the road.

Douglas Battista worked a full time/high stress job while completing his Masters of Science in Organizational Behavior. Many people believed focusing on both would be impossible, but Douglas Battista understood that in order to find his place in the world he had to make his own breaks. There is no substitute for hard work.

Take Abraham Lincoln, for example, who worked hard without ever getting disappointed about his numerous failures; from the age of 20 till the age of 52, when he went on to become the President of the United States. It took Noah Webster 36 years to complete his Webster's Dictionary. Where would we be today if he hadn’t put in those countless hours of hard work in this huge contribution to the English language?

According to Battista, success is not measured by the position you are in, but the amount of hard work you put in and the number of obstacles that you overcome to reach your goal.

Hard work, concludes Douglas Battista, shows that a person is determined enough to achieve greatness in their life.

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Chief HR Officer Douglas Battista Guides Jenny Craig Company Through Merger

According to Jenny Craig’s President of North America Field Operations Douglas Battista, leading integration and merger activities is a one-of-a-kind experience. Although the pressure can be intense, Battista appreciates the challenge of bringing different parties together for a common goal.

At its apex in 2008, Jenny Craig had welcomed popular celebrity endorsers Valerie Bertinelli and Kirstie Alley. The following years, however, were ones of decline for the brand. In 2013, Nestlé sold the company to private equity firm North Castle Partners. Douglas Battista says the

two companies needed to unity in order to create and develop the best wellness company on the market.

Currently, Jenny Craig is home to over 3500 employees in North America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, Australia, France and the Netherlands. For Douglas Battista, his main priority is to lead the integration of Jenny Craig’s human capital systems, programs and structures. To that end, Battista has formulated an integration roadmap to further distinguish the important activities of the organization.

The integration roadmap, according to Douglas Battista, features six different areas: culture, rewards, talent, administration/policy, business partner priorities, and an HR systems infrastructure to link all of these areas together. Battista has stressed the importance of communicating the organization’s priorities to all employees.

Once the merger was announced, Douglas Battista and the Jenny Craig CEO met to discuss the company’s chief financial goals and priorities. With just over a month to prepare for the post-holiday diet season, the two worked together on a program that would effectively communicate the required strategies. Battista proved highly valuable in this endeavor by compiling a concise one-page document delivering these insights in an easy-to-understand manner.

After drawing up a successful roadmap, the Jenny Craig CEO hosted a town hall meeting in January to share the company’s future strategies and encourage all parties to work together for the greater good.

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Human Resources Professional Doug Battista Explains the Art of Talent Assessment

In the modern business world, a few wrong turns often lead to a full-blown disaster, says HR veteran Doug Battista. Upper management can avoid a bad promotion or hire by establishing a succession plan for when top positions are vacated by long-standing leaders. This complex process ensures management is maximizing the distinct abilities of all employees in the organization.

Established companies like Nestlé, Disney and Procter & Gamble have all used some type of talent assessment, shares Douglas Battista. Many companies perform this on a regular basis and offer mentorship opportunities to employees with the highest potential.

According to Douglas Battista, only the best companies understand the vast difference between potential and performance. Performance is in the past, while potential involves the expected future. Illuminating potential is one of the most important elements in harvesting talent. Organizations can take the results of a talent assessment and determine promotional opportunities, proper compensation and project assignments.

The most successful companies are eager to keep talent engaged and motivated all year round, asserts Douglas Battista. These businesses have a set of priorities that include a clear emphasis on developmental activities and tracking progress on a regular basis. They can then offer mentorship opportunities for those employees in a position to become executives.

Douglas Battista notes that the Corporate Leadership Council describes potential as marked by the aspiration, engagement and ability to succeed as a leader within a particular organization. In order to achieve their overall goals, business executives must evaluate talent with a clearly delineated set of standards. After an assessment has been made, managers should make a note of employees who are poised to lead the company’s charge into the future. A written development plan for each employee is the final step so that all parties remain on the same page.

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Douglas Battista Discusses His Primary Role in Human Resources Management

Q: How long have you been involved in human resources? 

Douglas Battista: For more than 16 years, I have served in a variety of roles in the human resources field. My experiences have given me the privilege of working with a vast array of generous and intelligent leaders and mentors. Each of these talented individuals has taught me a number of important lessons that have benefitted my HR career.

Q: As a human resources director, what is your general perspective about departmental changes?

Douglas Battista: If what I’m doing isn’t adding value to the business, I will stop doing it and search for another solution. When something goes wrong, I must ask myself, “What did I do – or not do – to cause this situation?” 

Q: Where does a human resources leader fit into the overall structure of the company’s organization?

Douglas Battista: My actions reflect upon the entire human resources department from top to bottom. If mistakes get made, admit the problem and strive to do better next time. As they say, patience is a virtue and change doesn’t happen overnight.

Q: How will the organization as a whole be affected in the absence of established standards and procedures?

Douglas Battista: To put it mildly, policies are necessary in order to provide clearly defined boundaries. However, every situation is different, and human resource leaders must be flexible when there’s proven reason to deviate from written policies. My chief goal is to diffuse drama, not to instigate it.

Q: In closing, what is the most important lesson to remember when embarking upon a career in human resources management? 

Douglas Battista: Every single situation offers an opportunity for someone to make a great impression with his or her peers. By guiding your fellow employees towards success, you have the ability to create a balanced and highly comfortable work environment. 

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Douglas Battista | Crossfit Really Fits

Fitness enthusiast Douglas Battista notes that the Crossfit program can fit into anyone’s lifestyle.

Douglas Battista, an HR professional with a busy workload, says that no matter what an individual has going in their life, or what level of fitness they have previously maintained, CrossFit fits. The CrossFit fitness program is the standard for many law enforcement and military training programs across the nation, reports Douglas Battista. By having a broad range of skills to master, CrossFit offers an all-inclusive health training program that niche workouts don’t.

According to Douglas Battista, the Crossfit program is designed to be personalized, and can be used by both professional athletes and elderly heart patients with the same level of affectivity.   Regardless of experience or past history of training, anyone can scale the program to their personal comfort zone and capabilities. The program works for everyone since individuals need varying degrees of intensity, not different kinds of activity, says Douglas Battista.

Douglas Battista points out that CrossFit is a program that an entire family can follow. Parents, even those with small children, have found that this method is enjoyable and keeps their children’s interest. Douglas Battista points out that, since the workouts are natural and don’t feel forced, CrossFit is a fantastic way to introduce an exercise program to children. If every family in America would teach their children the importance of exercise, Douglas Battista suggests that childhood obesity and unnecessary adulthood illnesses, like diabetes, could be wiped out in one generation.

Douglas Battista reports that the CrossFit workout program can be done either at home with minimal equipment, or in a licensed CrossFit training facility. For those choosing the latter, Douglas Battista points out that a CrossFit certified trainer could help a trainee along their path to wellness. Those brave enough to enter into this program without guidance are cautioned that it is an intense workout, and it should be studied carefully before jumping in headfirst.

Finally, Douglas Battista insists that CrossFit is an effective and physically challenging workout and should be approached with a true desire for personal change and growth. Many people find that the Workout of the Day, or WOD, is the most challenging aspect of CrossFit to master. Douglas Battista says that beginners should take it slowly and consult the CrossFit website and its message boards for advice or questions.

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Press Mentions of Douglas Battista

Douglas Battista Discusses Value of HR During Turbulent Times

Escondido, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) May 23, 2012 -- Douglas Battista has served in human resources in both good, and more difficult, economic times. As President of North America Field Operations for Jenny Craig’s North America business, a Nestlé company, Battista has learned the value that a skilled human resources staff can add to an organization.

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