Organizations that have engaged employees, leaders and owners are the most productive, successful, keep and attract talented people. So why is there so little focus on engagement?
In the Middle East and Asia regular Gallup surveys suggest that only 10% of those in work are engaged in what they do. With this stubborn, immovable figure that’s 90% will be disengaged – hence organizations will struggle with innovation, new more effective and efficient processes or any productive change because people’s attitudes will simply block any progress. And although it’s widely accepted that people do not like change, management ignore it and research still says today that organizations invest and serge ahead expecting people to join in just because it’s a better solution. That approach hasn’t worked and never will – it reminds me of the saying “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”.
Is it time to stop making assumptions about what the workforce will do, and start engaging the workforce so they are more productive, look for growth opportunities and stop holding the organization back or to ransom? People that are engaged in their work are happier and will perform better because they have a direct link from their personal meaning and organizational culture, to the organization’s purpose. Why ignore these facts, and why not use them to your benefit? Organizations that use this knowledge effectively are very few and Apple, Google, Microsoft, Virgin Airlines are global brands that have used it wisely.
We can start improving at any level but the quickest and most effective is to address the leadership, the management employed to drive the organization. In June 2009 in the Harvard Business Review Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman published their finding on “The Ten Fatal Flaws That Derail Leaders”. They included a lack of energy and enthusiasm, lack of clear vision and direction, resisting new ideas and not learning from mistakes. Does that look familiar?
What’s needed is Reality-Driven Leaders that do things right and do the right thing. So maybe it is time to do something different; to travel in a new direction?
Neville is the co-founder of Mind Fit, a UK based company. He’s an international keynote speaker and co-author of “Is your mind fit for golf? The missing link to your success…” and “Mind Fit Golf For Kids”. As a Finance professional, Neville had a long career in FTSE 250 companies at both strategic and operational levels. His corporate and commercial finance background is gained over 30 years in international businesses mainly in the oil and gas industry, dealing with large and small businesses and complex supply chains. He has an accomplished track record of negotiating the business maze of short and long term commercial, political and environmental forces that influence all decisions. His motto is by Henry Ford – “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
For further information visit http://www.mindfitltd.com/ Twitter @NevilleGaunt or LinkedIn https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nevillegaunt
- Discovering the power of a Reality-Driven Leader
- How these Leaders identify Behavioural WasteTM , the parasite that blocks personal and organisational progress
- How Leaders and Entrepreneurs first reduce their personal Behavioural WasteTM and then focus on cultural and systemic waste through personal focus and effort
- How to engage people and develop growth mindsets, “Can-Do” attitudes with little Behavioural WasteTM
