It's a thing: Employee Engagment

"It's a thing" is a series that highlights concepts that employers and managers use and sometimes evaluate employees with that the average employee may not be aware.

In a training meeting, I learned about employee engagement. Employee engagement is when employees are motivated to contribute to the success of an organization, they give the best of themselves each day, they are committed to the company goals and values, they exhibit a sense of teamwork, while they have an enhanced sense of their own well-being. Employees that are not engaged show the opposite of these qualities. Employee engagement is a quality that modern owners and managers are looking for in their employees. Employees that are engaged rise to the surface of the company and are promoted into the highest positions. Employee engagement is becoming part of the developmental matrix looked to for employee advancement.

After learning about employee engagement, I had an interesting conversation with an employee. I shared with them what I had learn (and was learning) about the benefits of having an engaged workforce and they responded, "I didn't even know it (employee engagement) was a thing." What we both realized was that some managers were measuring their employees on things that they might not even be aware. She went on to tell me, "If I know that my employee wants me to do something or be a certain way, then they should let me know so that I can develop it." I agree! There are many more things that business owners and managers are aware of that the average employee is not.

The primary reason for this blog is to educate employees to what many managers are seeking so that they can become better employees.

Why is employee engagement important?

Good Employees Hustle

There are only so many hours a day to get things done--taking advantage of these hours to succeed or get ahead is HUSTLE.

When I was a young man involved in sports, coaches encouraged (demanded) for us to hustle. Hustle was never defined or explained, but we all knew what the coaches wanted. They wanted us to move fast, work hard, be determined, and never give up. Our coaches would forgive mistakes if we hustled, but if we were not hustling and making mistakes we were relegated to the bench--and no one wanted to be on the bench.

Good employees bring that same drive and determination to their jobs. Hustle is an entrepreneurial trait. Hustle is about getting ahead. Hustle is about taking ownership in what brings career and personal success. Hustle will make you and your company a success.

Hustle is about focusing on success and taking advantage of the time you have.

Crucial Conversations

Crucial Conversations are critical for the health of an organizational. 

You cannot fix what you don't talk about!

I have witnessed organizations where the atmosphere was full of toxic energy. Managers have disputes with other managers and subordinates, employees don't get along with management and conflict abounds. Often groups begin to form around individuals and sides are made. If issues surrounding the negativity are not discussed, they will continue to fester until an amputation or severing of the organization's members is necessary. 

TO AVOID CONFLICT IN ORGANIZATIONS, CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS ARE NECESSARY!

Nonverbal Cues Tell the Whole Story

Nonverbal communication is as important as verbal communication in delivering a message in the workplace.

The boss strolls through the office assessing their employees work space. They notice that one desk is rather messy and has a sign that reads "I'd rather be fishing," while the desk next to it is immaculately ordered and has a copy of the company mission statement prominently displayed. This alone does not reveal much about the employee, but taken with other nonverbal cues such as punctuality, attitude, and work quality, it gives an employer a load of information. 

A good employee makes sure that their nonverbal communication sends a positive message to their employer.

Nonverbal communication is simply defined as all the behaviors and cues that are not verbal. Almost all voluntary intentional acts or signals that are not words are consistently thought to communicate meaning. Sometimes these acts or signals support the verbal communication, but many times the nonverbal cues contradict verbal messages. Communication experts say that nonverbal cues are responsible for 60 to 93% of the meaning. Splitting the difference, we could safely say that approximately 75% of the communication that takes place in the workplace is nonverbal.

75% OF ALL COMMUNICATION IS NONVERBAL.