Dear friends
Ten days ago, whilst working in the pre-dawn – that sounds hard-working, but in truth, winter sunrise is only at 08h00 – I heard a familiar yet always thrilling sound. A sound somewhat like a water-logged digeridoo being cleared by a master musician, a resonant exhale with a watery woosh. I leapt up from my desk and glimpsed the blue-black of a whale slipping beneath the water’s surface.
The whales are back in False Bay. Although I only ever catch glimpses of them, the plumes of exhaled spray make me inexplicably happy. I assume that at some precognitive level, my spirit knows it is in the presence of a gentle giant.
Research tells us watching large bodies of water increases relaxation and other work tells us experiencing awe is an important component in vitality, so watching whales must be the ultimate soul supplement. Although, I don’t think we needed the Journal of Environmental Psychology to know that particular truth.
It has been a while since I’ve shared art with you. I love Masahiko Yamamoto’s elephant sakeware (thank you Mark Rosin for introducing me to his work) and Yinka Shonibare’s Monument to the Restitution of the Mind and Soul at the Venice Biennale is a spectacular testament to art’s power to remember, to speak truth to power, to open paths for healing and restitution. I hope you enjoy them.
/ strategy
Over the last month, I have focused on engagement starting with Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report and ending last week with a look at their recently published meta-analysis. In between, we explored the inner work of leadership, because increasing engagement and effectiveness starts with ourselves.
My reasons for doing so are two-fold.
First, Gallup’s research shows people who are actively disengaged at work (15% of the global workforce) experience higher levels of stress and anger than unemployed people. Enhancing workplace engagement is essential to improving societal happiness (read Clayton Christensen on ‘management as a noble profession’).
Second, businesses are grappling with the pandemic’s economic fallout and global geopolitics do not leave much room for optimism. Increasing effectiveness is non-negotiable at this moment. The data is unequivocal, increasing engagement increases performance.
The risk though, is in pursuit of increasing engagement we reduce it to a series of ‘interventions’ – teambuilding days, wellness days and apps, and the like. As part of an integrated strategy those tactics can be useful. On their own they have little or no impact and indeed carry risks, to extent that a recent HBR article is titled How “Carewashing” Alienates Employees.
Engagement is a consequence of consistent actions, behaviours and communication, to the extent that it is managers who account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement. Forget the app; focus on how you manage. You don’t have to be an activist to change the world. Well, be an activist for engagement.
If you’re a CEO or an executive know that engaged managers are twice as likely to have engaged employees.
Ultimately, once-off or even periodic actions, do not increase engagement. It results from strong relationships grounded in respect, growth, positivity, connection and care.
// self
One of my favourite artists, Matthew Hindley (this current work in progress is gorgeous), messaged me after last week’s letter asking, ‘Could this be applied to a single-person company? Does this mean a higher level of self-engagement is needed for an increased chance of success?’
It is a brilliant question. The answer is yes. Indeed, even increasing engagement in a large corporate first requires higher levels of self-engagement (which is why I wrote the inner work of leadership; engaged leaders create engaged employees).
Let’s peel back the layers. Eight variables influence engagement:
- I am really enthusiastic about the mission of my company.
- At work, I clearly understand what is expected of me.
- In my team, I am surrounded by people who share my values.
- I have the chance to use my strengths every day at work.
- My teammates have my back.
- I know I will be recognized for excellent work.
- I have great confidence in my company’s future.
- In my work, I am always challenged to grow.
We also know that positive attention (attention to the behaviours and attitudes creating impact) is thirty times more powerful in creating high performance than negative feedback. The golden ratio is three positives to every negative.
Incidentally, whilst talking about ratios, spend four times as much of your day using your strengths than on what you don’t do well or sucks your energy – “Miserable employees spent about equal time on both their strengths and weaknesses”.
Let’s apply this to increasing our self-engagement:
- Have a mission: Know how your work makes a difference.
- Set Clear Goals: Have clear, documented goals that energise you.
- Keep Promises to Yourself: Do what you promise yourself (have your own back).
- Leverage Your Strengths: Spend four times as much of your day on tasks that energize you and have impact.
- Challenge Yourself: Make sure you’re growing and improving.
- Celebrate Successes: At the end of each day, identify what you did well and how you might improve.
Experiencing it yourself will make you more effective in increasing other people’s engagement.
/// soul
Henry David Thoreau observed, “How can we remember our ignorance, which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time?”
It is a wise caution. Increasing engagement whether with ourselves or others, requires we periodically, stop, assess and get
perspective. Without that discipline, we end up acting blindly. True for you, true for your teams, true for your family, your relationship, your marriage. Take the time to assess and connect.
Please share this letter with other leaders. Spread the news, increasing engagement makes the world a happier and more effective place, and with care, it can be done. If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe here.
Happy engaging.
Best wishes
Karl
PS: If you love elephants, or need a smile, the Sheldrick Trust’s video of baby Toto playing with his keeper will transform your day.