Keep Your Employees Engaged With One Consistent Action

Right now companies are scrambling to figure out how to keep employees engaged. What if it only took one thing? What if you could engage your team with one simple continuous action? This action is so simple in fact that most companies overlook it entirely.

Communication is easily the most overlooked action you can take to engage your team. You may say you always talk to them. You may even say that it is an everyday occurance. If this is the case then there is only one reason why it is not working. You aren't communicating genuinely or with intention.

Just because words come out doesn't mean it is engaging. If you are only talking about business or having short conversation, than you are not actively engaging your team. There is more to engagement than just a few words or short conversations.

Part of being a great leader is knowing and understanding who you work with, personally and professionally. Do you know about Jane and her four kids? How about Hector and his new born? What about Kim and her recent engagement? Are you a genuine part of your teams life?

Knowing your team personally builds a great relationship. It also gives you insight on how each team member is handling life. If you know about each person on an individual level it gives you a clear look at what may or may not be affecting their performance. Wouldn't it be great to know that Bill is having a rough time with his sister so you can give words of encouragement versus hammering him about his performance?

Professional communication is just as vital as personal communication. By consistently conversing with your team you get the opportunity to address struggles, lift them up, and understand where they want to be in the company. Becky in accounting wants to try her had in sales, but you wouldn't know that if you aren't making an effort to understand her goals.

Yes it takes time to go around to each member of your team and converse, but it is the most important part of being a leader. How can you take action if you do not know what is going on in someone's life or work? How can you lead if you do not understand how each individual ticks?

Opening the lines of communication allows you to start implementing other engagement drives into the equation. Team building exercises will be easier because you know what drives your team. Appreciation efforts become easier because you know what makes your team feel appreciated.

Without great communication and understanding, you might as well sit back and watch the chaos ensue.