Engaging your employees is vital to the significance of any organization. Of course, financial metrics play an irreplaceable role that cannot be overstated, but these finances often overshadow intangible company culture and the engagement that goes with it. In fact, Arie de Geus stated in The Living Company the average life expectancy of any corporation is just twenty years.
Essentially, by focusing the lion’s share of attention on profits, companies neglect general morale. As morale and engagement fall, workers become less productive, less helpful, and less effective. It is of the utmost significance enterprises continue to value both profit and culture, or they are condemning themselves to a reduced life span of unfulfilled potential.
Engage your employees, improve your business, and turn more profit with these two simple tips:
Champion positive behavior.
While some may claim positive reinforcement only encourages misplaced recognition, the fact is positive reinforcement is invaluable. It gives workers doing a good job a reason to keep doing a good job. Sadly enough, many bosses focus so much on rectifying wrong behavior that they fail to acknowledge what’s going right. Those who are doing a good job then stop doing a good job—because why should they work harder only to be recognized for the bad? Acknowledge, praise, and perpetuate the good.
Recognize everyone.
Along the same lines as only recognizing the bad and not the good, it is important bosses acknowledge the good everyone contributes. Of course, some employees deserve more recognition than others and should be granted that. However, that does not marginalize the significance of championing positive behavior in everyone.
A recent study illustrated an immense 40% of employees would try harder if they felt recognized by their boss, but an astounding 82% said no such recognition was given. Recognition is not about competition between employees. It’s about inspiring all employees to do their best.
Leading is not easy, especially when it’s not just leading employees but also a business, revenue, and hopefully profit. Ensure your team helps rather than hurts you, and give them the recognition they deserve.