RESOLVING EMPLOYEE DISENGAGEMENT THROUGH THIS ONE THING

Employee engagement is a huge problem. According to Gallup, 79% of the global workforce is disengaged with Europe ranking the lowest with only 14% engaged at their workplace. This begs the question, what does employee wellbeing look like and how are people’s personal life affected as a result of such disengagement?

Working for 99.9% of the world’s workforce is a necessity – they simply can’t afford not to work. So, if work is a necessity in life, then what can we do to provide a better environment such that people are happy where they ‘choose’ to work at?

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that connection to others and loved ones is incredibly important. There is human suffering when we are isolated and don’t feel connected. Yet, there is comfort in knowing we are not alone. It is this sense of connection, empathy and purpose that made most of us stay indoors, follow government guidelines, keep a distance, wash our hands etc so we collectively come out of an impossible situation. There was collective commitment and a common goal of getting out of the Covid-19 pandemic together (and soonest) that drove people to do the very thing they hated: isolation.

The global pandemic also taught us that we want more from life. There is a global mindset shift where how we view work and what we want from life is different than it was pre-pandemic. We feel it in our colleagues and read about it in the news. Heck, we feel differently about it ourselves. People want meaning and to know that they matter; what they do matters; that their efforts are contributing to something more. Hence, the rise of the hustle generation. Millions of people have left the workforce in the past 2 years, especially women and women of colour to have a better life, remove toxicity from their lives, do something that will leave an impact, be more intentional with their time, and possibly leave this earth better than they found it. So, if it’s a better working environment and meaning that people are looking for, what’s stopping large corporations from providing that?

This brings us back to the initial concern of lack of employee engagement and how to make them more engaged at work. Simply put, the secret to engagement at the workplace is increasing people’s connection to the purpose of the company. People are looking for meaning, connection and impact. They are also looking for safety and stability. If we provided working environments that are respectful and inclusive, offering growth and personal fulfilment, there would have been no reason for people to leave the workforce. Can we not give them such a profound yet simple ask?

While a better working environment is a large topic in itself, we will address an equally big and overlooked area: purpose. This begs the question, how many companies are crystal clear on the purpose and talk about their WHY, the reason for their existence with their employees regularly? Let me take a step back and ask, how many leaders are 100% bought into their company’s purpose and that is their single most powerful driver on a day-to-day basis?

I believe that company cultures and engagement at work are driven top-down. If you have a leader who is fully invested in their ‘why’ and their why and the company’s why are similar, there is a deeper connection, commitment and greater results as it will show up in every decision they make and every speech they give at company townhalls, meetings and will show up in critical decisions. The employees adopt it, stand by it and work towards that. When employees are connected to something deeper and more meaningful, they give more of themselves, are more open and trusting of their teams, enjoy coming to work, they see themselves as long term employees, and overall have a healthier life filled with satisfaction. Their workplace provides them with the very thing they are looking for in life: the ability to make an impact and leave this world a little better than they found it.

Now I know I am assuming everyone is looking for this. But isn’t it true to some extent? As humans, our greatest need is to be seen and appreciated, to know that we matter and that we are useful and have made an impact in our corner of the world. When we leave this world, we mattered. Through every work that we do, whether it is making large machines or providing data (many would view these as ‘boring’), we have a way of making an impact in this world.

I believe, it is the responsibility of every leader to provide an environment where it is not just a transactional relationship – an exchange of services for a fixed monthly salary, but rather a place where people can do their best and thrive and feel satisfied. Easy? No. Worth it? Yes.

If you or your organisation is looking to do courageous work to find your/their ‘why’, reach out for a free consultation on how we can work together through 1:1 program or a group program so you too can have meaning and fulfilment each day.

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Categories: Leadership, Meaningful Life, Purpose