ARE YOU AND YOUR STAFF ON THE SAME PAGE?

Do you ever wonder why you are taking a course of action, asking your staff to follow then turning and finding no one there?  The reason for this could be that you and your staff are not on the same page?  While that is personally frustrating how much money is that costing you?

You can change that.  Here’s how.  Become a focused leader who empowers engaged employees who in turn create loyal customers leading to growth and success. 

Let’s start with the focused leader.  You may be the owner, the manager, or CEO but that does not mean you are seen as the leader.  You appoint yourself CEO but your team will follow you if you are the leader.   As managers we can influence the process through which people recognize our leadership by creating an environment where people will join “the team” because they see the purpose of what they are supposed to do and understand the vision, the “big picture” as well as the values of the organization for which they work. Today’s fast-moving business environment demands that the effective leader be both, a well-organized administrator and highly adept in understanding people’s basic needs and behavior in the workplace.  Be open with your communication.  Share the vision and values but also share your goals.  Also, share organizational results.  A CEO that keeps results secret breeds distrust.  The most successful businesses and business leaders conduct “open book” management.  This is the way to gain trust and commitment.

Next let’s move to engaged employees.  This is has been talked about endlessly.  However, since the business environment is always changing and evolving, the way we do business and communicate must also change with the environment.  Some engagement drivers may have shifted.  Be aware.  Many findings in older Gallop engagement surveys are important while other points relating to economy and generations have begun to show up.  For example, the desire of employees to have the opportunity to do what they do best is still important as is being recognized for a job well done. 

There is much room for improvement.  A study released in October 2012 conducted by MSW Research and Dale Carnegie Training surveyed 1500 employees nationally.  Results showed only 29% of employees are fully engaged while 26% are disengaged.   Bottom line is that in all of these surveys many employees listed similar key drivers for engagement, such as their relationship with their immediate supervisor, belief in senior leadership, and pride in working for the company.  That needs to be addressed by business leaders.  Disengaged employees do not contribute and worse, they could alienate your customers.

Loyal customers are the key to success.  Careless unengaged employees can ruin a business by driving away customers.  Does the team know how to measure loyalty, how to wow customers, and how to deliver on and exceed expectations?   The right people need to be placed in the right positions.  Jim Collins talks about this when he says, “Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats”.  Then focus of the vision, the goals, train, develop, and engage.

Once again it comes back to this.  Focused leaders with engaged employees will result in loyal customers and more business success.  Make that a goal for your business.