Staff Engagement

The article below was featured in a Metro supplement on staff motivation. For the full article click here.

Here’s the good news. Your employees WANT to take pride in the organisation they represent. They WANT to care about the quality of their output and WANT to understand how their efforts help to deliver the overall strategy. If this isn’t happening in your organisation, then what’s getting in the way? Are you doing the following?

1. Talk to your staff

Do lots of this. Don’t tell them ‘our employees are our most important asset’ in the internal newsletter or company website. They won’t believe you. Instead, walk the corridors, shopfloors, service centres or wherever the action is and get curious about what your colleagues need to do their jobs better. Don’t be afraid if they’re currently downhearted or suspicious of your actions at first. They may well be, but asking genuinely how you can help will foster growing commitment from them.

2. Lead by example

Be, act, do and be seen performing the behaviours you want from others. Be the role model for what you want achieved.

3. Be open and genuine

You can’t fake passion for seeking to achieve your goals. Your colleagues will know it’s not from the heart. A smart idea without a genuine belief in that idea, strategy or approach will deliver only in the short-term, but won’t be sustainable.

4. Treat your colleagues with respect

Don’t lie, fudge or spin the facts. Be straight, be clear and be transparent. Strong leadership involves sometimes saying “I don’t have all the answers”.

5. Get people involved

The opinions, insight and perceptions of all staff hold the creative sparks to greater profitability and growth. Get your management to seek employee opinions regularly.

6. Be clear about what you stand for

Can any employee in the organisation articulate the values and goals of the business? If not, then they won’t be fully engaged.

By Phil Jefferis

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