Does your organization support a culture of partnership?
I see great leaders who create a culture of unity—where everyone is on the same team and equally important—inspire the highest levels of employee engagement.
You see, when leaders treat their employees as partners, they have the highest sense of value. Their performance matches their engagement, and they can accomplish amazing feats.
You can support a culture of partnership by including your employees in all decisions, plans and discussions, just as true partners would be.
As stakeholders, they should be familiar with you organization’s vision, mission and strategy, and how they fit into big-picture growth and improvement. Inclusion is a great motivator, but unfortunately, many employees lack access to company business plans—sometimes inadvertently, often intentionally.
In my work as a coach, we discuss how important it is for leaders to inform people about situations related to their specific roles and duties. Open communication on matters big and small promotes inclusion and value. Share important decisions with them, and explain the reasons or rationale. Give them the supportive data or validation you were given so they can better appreciate the organization’s methods and values. This improves their trust, comfort and engagement.
With any decision or change, allow people to understand how they’re affected— collectively and individually. Leaders should set the example of embracing the progressive aspects of new policies or practices. Part of enhancing engagement is creating a more positive environment, where people feel cared for, their interests are considered and their futures are secure. They don’t need propaganda or fluff—just truthful, trustworthy and timely information.
Your people will feel more unified and engaged when they understand how they’ll contribute to upcoming changes, meet the new challenges and make their environment better—together.
Everyone benefits when leaders share their personal progress or status. Such communication conveys value and unity. Find the best ways to impart information, and allow people to offer input or feedback. Meetings, reports or messages can be used in different ways, with varying effectiveness. Creating a way for people to raise concerns and get answers enhances their interest in their roles. Keeping people connected and informed pays many dividends.
What do you think? Is there a culture of partnership in your organization? Do your employees feel included in decision making? I’d love to hear from you. You can call me at 561-582-6060; let’s talk. And as always, I can be reached here or on LinkedIn.
