Maintaining engagement during tough times
When times are tough and money is tight, companies often focus on reducing corporate costs rather than looking at areas that can be improved to generate additional business.
At times like this, many managers forget the importance of staff morale and engagement and fail to realise that cuts in the workforce can have a major impact on the performance of staff that remain.
With a little thought and input from management and staff, it is possible to maintain or enhance engagement and create a passionate, hard-working team that is committed to growth and improvement in line with the corporate vision, even in difficult times.
Here are four low cost ideas that can help you maintain the engagement in your business
- Share the vision. Ensure that your staff are clear about the company vision, and how they can play a part in achieving its successful execution. Show how far you will go when people help your company succeed. If there are disappointments, share those too. Be open and honest, and most importantly, be consistent.
- Recognise the positives. Turn your business into a culture where praise and positive feedback is given for great work and discretionary effort. It costs nothing, but it can mean a lot to the recipient. The higher up the management structure this praise comes from the better, and best of all it is free.
- Build reputations. Promote your top performers’ strengths and contributions and let them know that because of their excellent work you want them to be the role model for others. They are likely to remain motivated and continue to live up to their reputation as a great performer.
- Be spontaneous. When you see great behaviour or experience a fantastic piece of work delivered by one of your staff or project team, give them positive feedback and reward them. Take that person out to lunch, buy a round or drinks or purchase some doughnuts to celebrate a team success, or let them go home early. It doesn’t have to cost the earth, and the expense to the business can be significantly lower than the perceived value to the recipient.
Positive recognition and feedback will reinforce the behaviours you want to see, aligning behaviour with your corporate vision.
Tony Delaney, CEO Brownie Points
