We have heard time and time again that employee engagement relates directly to business success. When an employee is motivated and invested in a business or company, their productivity is much higher and the overall impact on their company is greater.
Today, I want to talk about how vulnerability plays a vital role in employee engagement. I’m talking specifically about vulnerability as it relates to “putting yourself out there.” There are two key ways in which an employee can positively allow themselves to be vulnerable in the workplace, and then it is a function of being respectfully received.
The first is asking for help. It is crucial that within a company there is a culture or an environment where people are comfortable seeking assistance. Not only should they feel comfortable to ask, but there should be equitable access to how and where a person can seek that education or training to better their skills, abilities and talents in line with their career and work life balance. By carefully crafting this open line of communication,there will be far less mistakes due to just “winging it” or taking on assignments and tasks that people feel ill equipped to take on. This open honesty will create long term improvements in productivity, individual self-confidence, team effectiveness and overall success.
The second way for an employee to feel vulnerable is by volunteering a new idea or making suggestions. How is such feedback, received in your workplace? Encouraging your employees to give feedback and deliver new ideas will provide ample opportunity to better your business. There are so many ways to enable creativity and keep your employees engaged to ignite those new ideas…changing processes or refreshing your space, building or modifying incentive and recognition programs are just a few.
It’s always a good time to do a pulse-check on how comfortable employees feel in the office asking for help and contributing new ideas. There’s no time like the present to improve what you already have going.Check with an MI specialist today to see how we can help.
