Strategies to Help Leaders Feel More Engaged and Connected
Engaged employees care about their work, are committed to their organizations, and often give more than is required or expected. They feel pride, satisfaction, recognition, and support, but more than that, they believe that their work matters and that it resonates with their values. What can leaders do to deepen employee engagement?
Show and tell your team that their work matters. Be clear about the values of the organization and talk about the meaning of work and how the team’s contributions matter to the overarching vision.
Enable your team to feel empowered and effective. Encourage team members and keep the lines of communication open. Ask for feedback, listen to their points of view, and give them choices on how to do their job.
Encourage innovation. Provide opportunities for team members to think creatively and take risks. When things don’t go as planned, ask what can be learned. Talk with your team about the possibilities of the future and how they imagine it.
Encourage job growth. Provide challenging opportunities for team members to test new skills and make decisions on how they do their work. Set clear goals, plans and milestones on projects to ensure understanding and buy-in.
Stretch yourself to be the leader others will support and willingly follow. Be sure your actions reflect your intentions. Follow through on your promises and commitments and seek out creative ways to celebrate accomplishments.
The most important thing to remember to ensure a consistent level of engagement is to model the above behaviors. Through regular practice of meaningful conversations, empowerment, encouragement, and growth opportunities, leaders can influence increased levels of engagement that will have a lasting impact.
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