Research has shown that engaged employees:
- Perform better.
- Are more productive.
- Are healthier than disengaged staff.
| Some theories talk about there being 3 tiers of engagement when it comes to staff | |
| Actively disengaged staff | Undermine co-workers. Are disruptive Openly complain. Produce work that is low quality |
| Disengaged staff | Put in minimal effort. Have little motivation. Have more absenteeism. Have low levels of participation Are complacent. |
| Engaged staff | Are motivated. Are loyal. Are productive. Are enthusiastic. Are committed. Have less turnover. |
To enhance engagement I suggest having an engagement plan that includes the following.
- Be visible.
- 1:1s with staff
- Rounding
- Listening
- Acting on what you hear
- Not sugar-coating things
- Following through
Matt Diggity, a leading leadership and marketing coach, talks about there being 3 types of engagement.
| Cognitive | Staff are aware of units/org goals, plan strategic vision, values. |
| Physical | Energetic – physically & mentally Productive & creative |
| Emotional | Sense of belongingpositive |
Forbes of Global Media fame, says there are 6 things leaders can do to avoid disengagement and improve engagement.
- Share vision and goals.
- Tie RDs to unit goals/ objectives
- Evaluate performance.
- Reward good work.
- Open door policy.
- Ask for upward feedback.
He also documents that great leaders say the following to their team members on a regular basis.
- Thank you.
- What support do you need from me?
- How can I help you?
- What did we learn from this that we can use next time.
- I have faith in you.
- You’ve done a great job.
- What do you think?
- How could we do this?