Dynamic Leadership in the Workplace
We hear the word engagement used in the business context all too often of late. A buzz word no doubt, but this word is the real deal. Engagement is what makes everything else fall into place, or it doesn't. It's the point where the rubber meets the road, determining whether you'll gain traction and achieve results or end up wasting time and effort. A common question I often hear is...
“What is true engagement, and when do I know I have it?”
-Jeff Rogers, CPMBC
My answer to this question is based on a mindset adjustment more than anything else. A behavioral shift is required to support the mindset shift. Are you ready?
The mindset shift is there is no engagement destination. This is a constant journey to acquire engagement personally, professionally, and organizationally. You simply do not ever arrive. This is because once you believe you may have it, now you must work even harder to keep engagement alive.
I hope this idea lands with you. In this sense engagement is similar to momentum, it is difficult to achieve and harder to maintain. But worth the effort we all agree. So what is engagement then?
How to Improve Team Engagement
To me engagement is a true force multiplier focusing on the right people, doing the right things, at the right times, to earn the right results, simply because they know it is the right thing to do.
There are many contributing components to making this happen but, focus and discipline, mixed with commitment, accountability and a whole lot of earned trust make up most of the secret sauce. Add to that massive quantities of communication with respect and candor, we begin the process. Lacking any of these items and start back at GO.
What can you do right now to move your engagement efforts forward? The benefits of your actions will be force multiplied beyond your current expectations for sure.
For many, this can all be too much. We might lose a key person or two while we make the shift. What will we do? What will I do? I am far too busy as it is right now. These thoughts are the very ones preventing your true engagement.
Work to engage your people, after all, business is all about people!
