Lean Quote: Build Employee Engagement by Believing in Your People

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me."   —  Jim Valvano  

A great leader can easily instill confidence among the staff. In order to maintain the positive work atmosphere which inspires creative thinking and new ideas, staff members have to feel confident about their work. A leader that simply nitpicks about everything and demonstrates extremely negative reactions for every mistake made will eventually ruin the positive energy in the work environment and ruin the self-confidence of the majority of staff members. A great and effective leader can inspire staff members to improve their performance and productivity by actively working on their confidence improvements. Publicly acknowledging those who perform well in certain areas can significantly contribute to this cause.

There are several ways that the leadership can show that they care about employees. Having a genuine belief in the people who make the organization successful starts with small steps.

Communicate Appreciation

Putting an employee recognition program into place is relatively simple. Give front line managers the guidance and resources that they need to regularly recognize employees for a job well done. Make employee recognition and praise a part of the workplace culture. Connect specific performance to organizational goals, but also to the professional and personal goals of the people who work there.

Support Professional Development

One of the best investments a company can make is to develop the talents and interests of employees. Host work-related workshops to teach new skills, and create a corporate tuition support for employees who wish to pursue industry certifications and degrees. By doing these things, you are communicating that you believe in your employees.

Offer Salary Incentives

Give employees the ability to “write” their own salary increases based on their performance and reaching learning milestones. As employees complete certifications, degree, or work training programs, give them the chance to earn more. Increase salaries well in advance of performance reviews, and then use this time to encourage and inspire them to go beyond their goals.

Celebrate Employees

It’s a great idea to celebrate company achievements, but it’s even more worthwhile to believe in and then celebrate employee successes. When an employee reaches a milestone or completes a goal, take the time to celebrate this in front of his or her peers. Make teams about supporting each other and then rejoicing when someone on that team succeeds.

As the organization shifts to believing in employees, it becomes much easier for employees to believe in the company. Goals become a personal link to the greater good that the organization stands for. Use the above steps to increase belief in your people and they will believe in the company.