Guest post from Ciara Byrne
There’s a great quote by Steve Jobs that goes, “My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to make them better.” This quote speaks volumes about a leader’s role and their influence on the people they work with.
A good leader can do much more than issue orders and set deadlines. Those in leadership roles play a huge part in keeping employees engaged, a key factor in the success of the entire operation.
Here are three ways good leaders can maintain positive workplace engagement, keeping employees motivated and passionate about their work.
Keep Morale High
Working in a company is like riding a very long roller coaster. There will be times when the work is going great, and everyone is hitting their KPIs and meeting deadlines. At other times, the ride is a little shaky, and employees can lose the motivation they need to get the work done, thus leading to a lack of engagement.
This moment is where the positive impact of good leadership becomes a key player. Those in leadership roles must keep morale high and motivate employees to try their hardest to overcome these challenges. Good leaders set an example for everyone by demonstrating their determination to overcome all obstacles.
A short team-building session is an effective step a leader could take to improve morale. This strategy can refresh and cheer up employees, preparing them for the difficult journey ahead.
During times of trouble, leaders shouldn’t hide away in their office or miss work. They should have their boots on the ground with everyone else and work diligently to show employees that their leader is still highly motivated.
Lead, but Also Listen
A leader must do more than simply give out orders. Sure, one of the leader’s primary responsibilities is to lead, but one crucial responsibility that many tend to overlook is listening to their employees. By listening to their workers, leaders can significantly boost employee engagement.
Picture this scenario: an employee has a good idea for one of their projects and communicates it to their direct manager. The manager doesn’t give this idea any thought or maybe even ignores it. This response means that in the future, this same employee is less likely to offer new ideas and, as a result, distance from their work.
On the other hand, if the leader listens to this employee and their ideas, the employee will be inclined to offer more ideas in the future. When employees see that leadership considers and appreciates their input, they become more engaged with their work and motivated to share new ideas.
This is why listening skills are so crucial in leadership development. Leaders must know how to listen to their subordinates and effectively consider all the ideas and advice employees have to offer. The ability to listen is what differentiates good leaders from bad ones.
Recognize and Reward
Good leaders must recognize good work and reward it. This method is a great way to improve workplace engagement and motivate workers to try their hardest, if not for the sake of the company’s mission, then for a nice reward.
Here’s a great example of how recognizing and rewarding good work can go a long way in further engaging employees with their work. Remote employees tend to be the least engaged in their work, as the physical distance creates mental barriers. And sure, compensating remote employees with a higher salary than expected can motivate them to work hard, but there’s more to employee engagement than more money.
Recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance cultivates a workplace culture where those in leadership appreciate hard work. When employees see that their leaders recognize and reward hard work, they’re more likely to be engaged with what they do.
On top of that benefit, employees that know their hard work will be rewarded are more prone to pursue career growth and improve as professionals, which in turn greatly benefits the company. This benefit is why so many company leaders put plenty of effort into recognizing and rewarding excellent performance from employees and supporting their professional development.
Wrapping Up Leaders and Employee Engagement
A good leader will have a significantly positive impact on workplace engagement, which has a major impact on the work being done. It is up to those in leadership positions to ensure high levels of employee engagement.
Listening, rewarding, and keeping morale high are the tenets of leadership that solidify employee engagement.
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