Better Management Through Engagement
Many Americans are feeling disengaged at work in the wake of the pandemic. This is a concern for leaders and a sign that you should consider prioritizing a company culture that facilitates employee engagement. Employees are more likely to feel engaged when they are allowed to thrive and flourish, to be their authentic selves, are challenged and given more responsibility and autonomy. Here are some steps organizational leaders can take to achieve increased employee engagement.
Identify and nurture your employees’ interests and talents
Every employee has a unique skill set and areas of strength. Yet, often, managers expect employees to strictly adhere to their job descriptions, without thoughtfully considering how to maximize their best capabilities. Look for indicators that tell you which employees are naturally better at and enjoy which areas of responsibility and, when possible, adjust tasks or assign special projects accordingly.
Gain trust by conferring it
Employees who are micromanaged sense that there is a lack of trust in the workplace. If you are a manager that tends to micromanage your employees’ tasks, you’re letting them know you aren’t confident in their abilities. As a result, your employees may have a hard time trusting you. Instead, gain trust by conferring it. That is, empower employees to live up to their own true potential. Make sure that they understand their responsibilities and your expectations, then step back to observe and trust that they will execute accordingly.
Be a consistent leader
A workplace’s culture hinges on the quality and strength of its relationships. Building relationships requires consistency from leadership. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you treat everyone the same but it does require a consistent demonstration of the values of the organization. As employees see and feel consistency across realms, they will become more comfortable, feel valued, take more risks and, likely, show more engagement in the activities of and success of the organization.
If employee engagement and motivation is a priority, it may be wise to start with a look at leadership and its effectiveness. This is an area of expertise at Crosworks. With various professional backgrounds and experiences, every day our executive coaches work with managers and executives to help generate culture shifts in organizations. Contact us today to learn more.