Pat, leader and host of the Working Genius Podcast, discusses the importance of employee engagement and simple ways to create the right environment for your team. They emphasize the significance of treating employees well, getting to know them personally, and helping them feel relevant in their work. Plus, they announce a free live webinar on improving meetings.
Knowing and acknowledging employees personally and professionally is crucial for creating an engaging work environment.
Helping employees understand the relevance and impact of their work improves job satisfaction and fulfillment.
Deep dives
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: Anonymity
One of the main points discussed in this podcast episode is the importance of knowing and acknowledging your employees as a manager. Anonymity is highlighted as a major source of job misery. When employees feel that their manager doesn't know who they are or what's going on in their lives, it greatly affects their satisfaction and motivation in the workplace. The podcast emphasizes that taking the time to get to know your employees personally and professionally is a fundamental driver of employee engagement and should be a core responsibility of managers. By building relationships and showing genuine interest in their employees, managers can create a positive and engaging work environment that significantly improves morale and productivity.
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: Relevance
The second main point discussed in this podcast episode is the significance of making employees feel that their job matters and is relevant. Regardless of the size or nature of the role, employees need to understand the impact their work has on others' lives. The example of a fast food restaurant employee is given to illustrate how providing the perspective and purpose behind their work can drastically improve job satisfaction. By connecting employees' tasks to a larger purpose and helping them see how their contributions make a difference, managers can help create a sense of fulfillment and meaning in their work.
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: Immeasurement
The third key point discussed in this podcast episode is the necessity of giving employees a way to measure their own success and progress within their role. While jobs may not always have concrete metrics for evaluation, there are still observable signs that can be used to gauge performance. The importance of providing employees with a tangible way to assess their own performance is stressed, as this self-awareness and self-evaluation contribute to motivation and a sense of accomplishment. By encouraging employees to reflect on their work and measure their own success, managers empower them to take ownership of their performance and strive for continuous improvement.
Key Takeaways: Transforming the Manager-Employee Dynamic
In summary, this episode highlights three key factors that can significantly improve the manager-employee relationship and overall employee satisfaction: knowing your employees personally and professionally, ensuring employees understand the relevance and impact of their work, and providing employees with a way to measure and evaluate their own performance. By actively applying these principles, managers can create a supportive and engaging work environment that fosters employee growth, boosts productivity, and reduces turnover. Ultimately, focusing on these fundamental aspects can transform the manager-employee dynamic and contribute to a more positive and fulfilling work experience.
Leaders have many responsibilities, but too often the most basic aspects of the role are overlooked. This week, Pat and the team discuss employee engagement and provide some simple but necessary ways to make sure you're creating the right environment for your team.
Questions for Leaders:
What do I know about the people that work for me?
When’s the last time I asked them about these things?
Why does their job matter to somebody else (customers, clients, vendors, colleagues etc..)?
When’s the last time I reminded them of why their job matters?
How can I observe whether they’re being successful?
When’s the last time I let them know how they’re being successful?
Unfrustrate your meetings and see Pat 'At the Whiteboard' this November for a free live virtual event! Info and registration: workinggenius.me/atwnovreg