How Leaders Strangle Engagement
Success requires engagement. Disengaged people do as little as possible to get paid. They’re the walking dead. Leaders do six things that strangle engagement*.
- Constantly give people too much to do. People who can’t catch up burn out.
- Don’t recognize good performance.
- Ignore people. Let them feel like outsiders on the team. Don’t provide support.
- Play favorites. Show everyone that hard work doesn’t matter. Reward your favorites.
- Ignore values.
- Tell competent people how to do their job.
When you’re overworked (#1 above) the rest of the list becomes inevitable. “Being too busy impacts all the other factors listed on this chart.” Paula Davis, Lead Well.
3 Ways to Fuel Engagement:
#1. Loosen your grip.
Give competent people control.
The power to make decisions drives engagement. Let people choose how and when key aspects of their job are done. Autonomy energizes people.
Engagement requires a voice in the way things are done.
#2. Value relationships.
Show people they belong by listening to their voice. Provide opportunities for people to connect. Provide time for teammates to get to know each other. Tell people you’re glad to see them.
People don’t give their best when they feel like outsiders.
#3. Help people improve.
Engagement goes up when people learn and grow. Help people develop skills that enable them to reach their aspirations.
Work is energizing when our contribution is meaningful.
Note: Paula Davis calls the three items above the ABCs of engagement—Autonomy, Belonging, and Contribution.
What drives your engagement at work?
*This post is inspired by, Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team.
Research:
https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/belonging-at-work
https://www.achievers.com/blog/employee-recognition-statistics
Leaders CAN do DIS-un-engagement.
🙂