By Tony Deblauwe
1.
1. What trends are you seeing emerge
between current job market conditions and current employee engagement levels?
The social contract between employee and employer has certainly
shifted. In today’s market employees do
not expect as much from employers as we might have seen 20 or 30 years
ago. Because of the volatile market
conditions, employees, in general, have lower levels of trust in their
employers and thus are quicker to look for something new if their needs are not
being met. The current dynamic is leading employers to recognize that high
levels of employee engagement are something that require cultivation.
2.
2. How are you coaching your clients who are
worried about retention?
I believe it is still about the individual relationship between the
employee and their manager. Employees
will be engaged when they are offered a clear, compelling vision that makes
sense to them. Organizational leaders
must provide hope, challenge, and encouragement by talking with employees about
the future of the organization and by describing how the employee’s efforts
contribute to that future.
3.
3. What are three things leaders can
do to engage their people?
Leaders
must:
·
Clearly
define and communicate a vision for the future of the organization.
·
Share
the vision simply, enthusiastically and often.
·
Talk
with employees about their individual goals/needs and then link the employee’s
goals to the future of the organization.
Employees need to know how they fit into the big picture.
4.
4. What are some effective ways
leaders can use technology to leverage employee engagement?
One of the best approaches to using technology to engage employees is
to let the employees tell you how to leverage it. The worst thing I’m seeing leaders do today
is to restrict the use of certain technologies because they believe can’t
control how employees use them. One
organization I worked with prohibited the use of Instant Messaging, even though
the younger workers were using it to communicate about work-related
issues.
Another organization implemented extensive filters which made it so
that many Internet sites were inaccessible. Employees read these measures as a
lack of trust. To engage employees, ask
them to identify the ways technology can be leveraged, rather than limited, for
the benefit of the organization. And then, of course, use their ideas.
5. 5. Where can people find out more
about you and the products/services you offer?
Visit my website at www.ManagementEducationGroup.com
for a full description of services, clients, and team members. The website includes management-related
articles and an archive of my monthly e-tip that offers practical, timely
suggestions for managers. You can sign up for the monthly tip at my website.
You can also find me on Twitter @Marnie_Green or email me at mgreen@managementeducationgroup.com.
