Most team members cannot remember the last time they actually wanted to go to work. Research has shown 13% of your team is engaged in their work. This is sad, isn’t it?
You don’t want your organization to be part of the 87% of workplaces people go to and are disengaged. No, you want people who are engaged and excited to be at work.
But to do this, you have to create a special workplace. A workplace team members want to work.
What does it take to create a workplace people are excited to come to? That’s what we’re going to dive into today.
Creating A Workplace Team Members Want To Work
There are multiple layers to the problem of a disengaged workforce. We’re not going to cover every single action you can take. What we are going to do is look at some practical steps you can take to engage your team and help them become more productive.
Make their first day memorable
Chip Heath, the best-selling co-author of Decisive and The Power Of Moments, shared an insight at Catalyst Atlanta 2018 that may shock you. We don’t make work memorable, even for new hires.
Organizational leaders will roll-out old workstations or laptops to new employees. They’ll wander the office aimlessly trying to figure out what they’re supposed to do on their first day.
Instead of someone who’s confused, how epic would it be to have a welcoming team to onboard your new team members? Imagine the new team member arrives and
- Is shown to their new desk. Everything is set up and ready to go. And it’s all new equipment.
- Finds a personal email from your organization’s CEO welcoming them to the company.
- Is greeted by a friendly face and taken to lunch the first or second day of their employment.
- Has a favorite drink waiting for them or brought to them by one of their teammates.
- Various team members show them the exciting projects they’re currently working on.
Small changes to the onboarding process can make a huge impact on the way a team member views their new workplace. They can either become excited or they can feel like they’ve made a mistake in accepting the new employment opportunity.
You can make a difference. You have to make a difference.
Let go of the leash
You hired your team members to do great work. You also believed they had what it takes to do the great work.
This begs a question: Why are you leashing their abilities? Why are you demanding they do work in a specific way?
You’re leashing your team members from doing creative, great work because you’re showing them you don’t trust them. You need to let go of the leash. You have to give them the freedom to work in their unique gifts and talents.
Allow your team to work differently than you may like. Their methods and way of thinking bring something unique to your organization. Don’t hinder it!
Doing these two things will drastically change the way team members look at your organization. They’re going to have the peak moment of being wowed when they begin their career. They’ll also be wowed by being allowed the freedom to work in the way that works best for them.
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