Many companies have made significant cuts to their workforce, which almost certainly weighs heavily on their remaining employees. To get the job done, organisations tend to rely on a core group of employees whom they trust and believe in. How can you keep these individuals motivated and engaged—and for how long? According to research by Gallup, organisations with a high level of engagement report 22 percent higher productivity. “Engaged employees are more attentive and vigilant. They look out for the needs of their coworkers and the overall enterprise, because they personally ‘own’ the result of their work and that of the organisation,” said Jim Harter, PhD, a chief scientist at Gallup Research. So what does engagement have to do with communication and leadership? A lot! Don’t hide from your people How many managers spend most or all of their time behind closed doors and away from their employees?
Think about the amount of distance (literally and figuratively) between you and your employees. Regardless of a jam-packed schedule, make sure you maintain a culture of dialogue with your people. As we’re sure you know, each person is different and is motivated in different ways. Rather than employing a one-size-fits-all approach, an effective manager will tailor his or her management style to illicit the best responses from each employee. As a leader, manager, or boss, it is your job to keep the people you’re responsible for engaged and motivated. Recognise that when you’re feeling down and low, chances are your staff is, too. Be careful not to drive a melancholy workforce even lower by mercilessly cracking the whip. Likewise, don’t assume a posture of ignorance by hiding in your office and waiting for the sun to start shining again. Instead, take that opportunity to talk to your employees. By listening, you’re not only showing them that you care, but you’re also receiving real-time feedback on their concerns and attitudes, which you can then use to either correct problems or find ways to motivate them.
The bottom line is that by communicating you’re also engaging your people, which is most important! If your organisation is suffering from disengagement, as was found in the Gallup study, then you have major concerns which should be dealt with by senior leadership and HR. But, don’t wait for that to happen. Realise that each person can influence others positively as well as negatively. Start to change your organisation today by connecting with your employees, making a commitment to rise above the negative noise, and doing something positive. This is a trait of an effective leader.
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