How To Cultivate the Engaged Employees

Section B Group 3

Employee Engagement is a measurable degree of an employee's positive or negative emotional attachment to their job, colleagues and organization which profoundly influences their willingness to learn and perform at work

- Scarlett Surveys

Command and Control model (Top down model)

V/S
Engaged Employee Model

 Managers discourage their subordinates from speaking to prove themselves

What should be done? Sharing of both, successes and failures a balance of which brings one down to Earth in the eyes of employees Only relevant personal examples should be shared Example:

 Sub ordinates sometimes perceive that they are not well heard and that their opinions do not matter
What should be done? Attention to body language Maintaining an eye to eye contact during conversation Small details like using a bound notebook to note the recommendations, avoiding looking at the watch or mobile during a conversation, etc

 Cultural/ company norms work against dissent

What should be done? Reformat meetings eg: use of circular table over the rectangular one Garnering subordinates opinions during every interaction (rather than just limiting it to formal one to one meetings) Solicit advice from individuals

 Lack of prioritization many items on the agenda and fixed time Critical items to be discussed are missed out Hurry to reach the solution does not allow sufficient discussion
What should be done? Keeping only the relevant issues on the agenda Prioritizing the items on agenda Doing pre work before actual discussion eg: sending written briefings the day before Driving the discussion on the track

 Managers trying to find an instant solution without an in depth analysis often makes things worse What should be done? Managers role is to act as a catalyst to reach the solution rather than providing it on his own Managers must admit their ignorance instead of somehow reaching a solution

 Conventional management wisdom: Flawed decision is better than no decision managers dictate the decision if the group does not reach a solution People feel discouraged to express their opinion freely What should be done? Trying to build a consensus Dont rush to impose a decision

1. Employee value is not squandered 2. Effective interdependence 3. The ways suggested to focus the agenda are widely used 4. Virtuous cycle of customer satisfaction and employee job satisfaction 5. Managers can not give solutions to all problems the point becomes very relevant in technical firms

 The article focuses on the initiatives to be taken by the manager, but it could also include the organizational initiatives eg: conducting team outings The article could also include how this system can be implemented in case of different cultures Applicability in different organization with respect to achieving a balance between the command and control model and employee engagement eg: Defense services is a mix of both, command and control and employee engagement