Engaging your Employees

Many companies have experienced some "out of the ordinary" events this year and the American workforce is as uncertain as ever about their future and the prospects for their company. One thing that we must always keep in mind; a company is nothing more than a group of people working together toward a common goal. This year the American worker has been through downsizing, a problematic economy, and personal uncertainty. Through these events; they most likely experienced a variety of feelings, thoughts and behaviors, both positive and negative, depending on the situations they've encountered.

Individual disengagement is becoming routine in the workplace and when that happens it normally leads to a decrease in productivity and effectiveness. It can also lead to indifference in company projects, more time spent away from work and increased illness.

The need to improve corporate output has never been more important but today business leaders are noticing a disconnection in the attitudes of employees; and at a period when corporations need increased output and efficiency more than ever. All a company has to do is take the employee into consideration. The manager/leader must make sure each person knows where he or she is located in the "big picture" and explain how each person can successfully continue to contribute to the daily operation and mission of the company.

A corporate disconnection by the employees is, of course, something that you want to avoid but should you find yourself in this position, immediate action must be taken to put the "train back on the tracks."

There are a few things that workforce managers have found useful in dealing with these types of situations; the first of which is just talking to the employees, either one-on-one or as a group. It is important to discuss the current situation with the employees to find out the reasons for negative or neutral feelings and then do the very best to inspire them. Offer the employee(s) a goal, something to work toward that will enhance the company's vision for the future while increasing the feeling of inclusion within the corporate structure.

Change is always difficult for people to accept, especially if it's the kind of change that they perceive as negative or disrupting to their daily routine. If they understood the reason for the change they are more likely to become productive members of the team again. All change should be presented to the team as an improvement to their former situation and, for goodness sake, let them know how it will affect them; they are already anxious about their circumstances.

Empowerment of your employee base is a necessity to insure that the key assignments are completed efficiently and productively. If the staff feels like they are in control of their situation, the more confident they will become; plus, an employee who is empowered to make decisions will always help create and maintain a satisfied customer base. It's a win-win! Allow your employees to make decisions within their areas of operation and make sure the team is constantly considering and discussing problems and implementing potential solutions that will improve the daily work environment.

Your organization might also consider rewarding employees for their achievements whether it's an individual or a team effort. A reward might be something as small as a pat on the back and a "job well done" from the boss. Many times that's more than enough. Other times you might consider a larger incentive; things like a day off or even a monetary award. Whatever you decide to use is entirely up to you but treat any employee reward sensibly and only for specific "over and above" task completions. A "scheduled" monthly award can soon be seen as insignificant but an occasional corporate acknowledgement, in whatever form it takes, expresses genuine significance and is much more likely to be sought after by other employees in the future.

It's been a rough year for corporate America but today we should be looking forward to 2010 with hope and optimism. The holidays are a great time for you to gather your team and make sure they are mentally prepared and enthusiastic about making next year the most profitable yet. Again, let's remember that a company is nothing more than a group of people working toward a common goal. Treat them with respect and make sure everyone understands what the company's objectives are for the months ahead. With an engaged staff, you will be more likely to achieve your goals in the New Year.

Let's get business moving again in 2010!