ALUC Your Way To Success
by Miki SaxonEvery manager loves the folks who come to work champing at the bit, raring to go and bust their butt all day long. They love to talk about the high level of engagement their team has and brag about their productivity and innovative ideas.
If you want a group like this then make no mistake, It’s your responsibility to engender that attitude, i.e., engage them.
It’s not going to happen by accident and you can’t order your people be engaged.
Engagement happens because you, and hopefully your company are engaging.
This isn’t doubletalk or smoke, think about it. Think about what engages you.
- The guideline is the same thread that has run through every major philosophy and religion for thousands of years—treat your people s you want to be treated—whether your boss treats you that way or not.
- Authenticity is the current buzz word, but it translates simply to be honest, open and do what you say; never fudge, let alone lie, intentionally or otherwise.
- There are absolutely no circumstances that warrant or excuse the messenger being killed. None. Because if you do, there’s no going back—ever.
- If your company doesn’t have an engaging culture then you must be an umbrella for your people, because you can create one below you, even if you can’t change it above.
While managers may not be able to control overall corporate culture there are many things they can do within their own group’s culture to foster engagement.
The number one approach is to show your appreciation of your people. Study after study confirms employees’ desire to feel valued; to make a difference and be credited for it. But how, with budgets cut below bone level?
Here are four simple actions that you can implement at no financial cost and that don’t require approval from anyone.
- Ask everyone for input, ideas, suggestions and opinions—not just your so-called stars.
- Listen and really hear what is said, discuss it, think about it.
- Use what you get as often as possible, whether in whole or in part, or as the springboard that leads to something totally different.
- Credit the source(s), both up and down, publicly and privately, thank them, compliment them, congratulate them.
If you’re sincere, you can’t lay it on too thick; if you’re faking it, they’ll know.
And if you’re stupid enough to steal the credit for yourself in the mistaken name of job security you’ll have the fun of explaining to your boss the plummeting productivity and soaring turnover that accompanies the thefts.
Think ALUC; pin a note on your wall that says ALUC.
Ask!
Listen!
Use!
Credit!
ALUC will make you a winner.
Your comments—priceless
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Image credit: Street Sign Generator
