#Management Fatique = Employee Disengagement

Are your employees disengaged or off their games? Are you? I was working with a group of supervisors and as our discussions unfolded, the situation became clearer.

They said: Our team members are disengaged, they don't seem to care, they just do the job.

They said: Our team used to be highly performing - a few years ago. Lots of things have changed in terms of the work environment, practices, the amount of challenging work, relationships, expectations, cuts in hours, etc.

They said: For the most part, today's disengaged employees are the same folks who were highly performing before.

I asked: And what about you?

They said: We try to start each day engaged and up, but it is hard and we often get frustrated, tired, drained by having to be like a parent to well qualified professionals.

Several also said: And to some degree, our jobs feel less challenging and motivating.

There are many reasons that this team has gone from highly engaged and performing to disengaged and doing the minimum. Some reasons have nothing to do with this dedicated and hardworking team of supervisors. That said, it has always been my belief that:

You cannot expect your employees to be more engaged, interested, or committed than you are.

And another thing I feel confident of - the supervisors may not have caused many of the changes that have rocked this team, (and more changes are inevitable) but they are key to helping the team reignite and reengage.How? In this case, they need to focus on a few areas:

Find ways to add back more challenge into the work. Team members are missing this and their jobs feel less substantive.

Increase connection through relationship building. This team used to work together more than they do now. Their structure has separated the "we are all in this together," dynamic.

Hold people accountable for basic performance and don't let your fatigue and frustration (or the hassle) get in the way of ensuring everyone contributes.

At the same time, find ways - everyday - to show employees you care and believe they are amazing. Both employees and supervisors are acting a bit like victims and the supervisors are key to reversing this vicious cycle.

The supervisors also need to do whatever it takes to get reengaged. Are you in a similar situation? Partner with your manager to bring back some of the challenge in your job and practice techniques that allow you to start, endure, and end each shift on a high.

I recommended three books that I think could help them reinvent their approaches to their work (they are already talented, committed, and hard working):

The Art of Possibility

The Power of Full Engagement

My book, Two Weeks to a Breakthrough

Comments

[Heather]

I could not agree more! As a leader on my team I am feeling and acting like a victim to all of the changes that have taken place over the last couple of years due to economy. The company is doing well but because of todays economny advancement opportunities are limited and it hard to find that motivation to keep your head above the water.

[lisa haneberg]

Heather: Thanks for sharing! It is a reality for many - less opportunity, stressed conditions. And it is easy to see how people can slip into victim mentality. But it is not helpful and douobly so when we are a manager.

It's hard! And it is powerful.

[Timothy Smith]

Super article to write about. I'll bet this is more common than people want to admit or talk about.
The key is, it happens. The point you make is great that the team will not be fired up MORE than the leader, at least not for a sustaining peroiod of time.

The leaders need to find ways to keep the team focused and going in the right direction. Excellent advice by you as well. In addition, the age old basic stuff still works well too. APPRECIATION for the worker, CHALLENGES, as well as mix it up and breathe some everyday FUN into things as well.
Excellent post!

Tim Smith,Grand Poobah of Smiles
Smile-Therapy.com

[Supra Shoes]

Your article is wonderful,can you tell me how did you do it?Your blog is wonderful,I like it very much.

[ClubPenguinCheats]

Thanks for sharing! It is a reality for many - less opportunity, stressed conditions.