Disengaged Employees

It’s estimated that uninspired, disengaged employees cost American business more than $350 billion annually. Over the last decade, a Gallup Poll of 10 million employees revealed that two thirds felt they were not given the opportunity to do what they do best every day.

Think of your business as a boat competing with other boats. To win you need everyone at the oars, rowing in the same direction. When you have disengaged employees, if you make headway in the race, it’s only because engaged employees are rowing harder to make up for those who aren’t.

You don’t need elaborate incentive programs to inspire employees. Here are 5 things that you can do to keep employees engaged in your business:

1. Hire Right People who value what you value most. If they don’t share your company’s values, culture and vision, they’ll be the first to disengage.
2. Put them in Right Seats and be sure they Get it, Want it, and have the Capacity to do it. Don’t overlook the importance of “wanting it”. Wanting a paycheck isn’t the same as wanting to do what the seat requires.
3. Create clear expectations by defining their roles and giving them something vital and measurable to deliver. Track these “measurables” on team scorecards to keep everyone focused on progress.
4. Involve everyone in a Meeting Pulse to improve communication, solve key issues, get things done and improve team health.
5. Say Thank You with sincerity and show a personal interest. This costs nothing and provides the motivation needed to keep people at the oars.

Disengaged employees make for a rough trip – engaged employees make it easier and lift the entire organization. If you’ve done your part as a leader and manager and you still have disengaged employees, remove them from your boat.