The number one employee engagement killer is making them feel as if they don’t have a voice.
What I am about to tell you is a true story in order to deliver this point
An employee meets with her manager to pitch her idea. An idea that according to her experience will reduce the complaints from customers. The manager’s short response was that there is no evident increase in revenue, therefore, there is no business case. Just like that, the meeting is over.
The employee goes back to her office and stares out the window gone in thought. Her colleague approaches her and asks what is wrong.
She goes on to explain what happened and instead of listening to words of sympathy, her colleague starts to laugh and says “oh honey you remind me of myself four years ago. I spent six months trying to share my knowledge and was always rejected.
After those six months I gave up and now I just come in at nine and leave at five pm. Fridays I leave at two and I don’t take any work home. They offered me a cellphone and I said no thank you.
Can you imagine what the consequences would be if you had many of your employees doing the bare minimum?
There are three things you can do to avoid this scenario.
Make sure that your employees feel seen. At the end of the day, we human beings want to feel valued and appreciated. “That’s what the salary is for,” some say but it doesn’t always translate to optimal performance and engagement.
Micromanage- The more micro-manage the less responsibility they are willing to take. Their creativity will also diminish due to the constraints they are in when managed in this way.
Lead, don’t manage. Create and spread the idea of Autonomy. Top performers like responsibility and challenges. Give them the chance to do so.
In conclusion, if you want everyone to be fully connected to the company mission, you must give them the opportunity to connect with it by using their creativity and motivation to prove themselves including the people who are disengaged. It will take time to turn things around but once you do, your environment will be a place where people are lining out the door to work for you.
