{"id":192,"date":"2018-06-01T13:35:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T13:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danielvlopes238992071.wordpress.com\/2018\/06\/01\/small-but-effective-6-commonly-overlooked-actions-to-increase-employee-engagement\/"},"modified":"2025-02-28T13:32:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T21:32:54","slug":"small-but-effective-6-commonly-overlooked-actions-to-increase-employee-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canopy.is\/blog\/2018\/06\/01\/small-but-effective-6-commonly-overlooked-actions-to-increase-employee-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Small, but effective: 6 commonly overlooked actions to increase employee engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From icebreakers to arguments, here are some of most frequently missed things we forget to do as leaders to encourage our team to be more engaged.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Meaningful work, open communication, a sense of direction\u2026 In our heads, we seem<\/em> to know a lot of what helps maintain employee engagement. However, in practice, keeping our team engaged can be a challenge. We notice teammates zoning out during meetings, missing deadlines, or not bringing up new ideas as often as they used to. How do we course-correct when we notice our employees\u2019 engagement level and energy starting to slip?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our research\u200a\u2014\u200acollected from 15,000+ employees in over 25 countries\u200a\u2014\u200areveal a few small things that can make a big impact on your team morale. Here are six of the most frequently overlooked actions we can take as leaders to improve employee engagement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Say what you\u2019re<\/em> struggling with.<\/strong> We often believe being an effective leader means being stoic and unflappable. However, you can be steady as a leader, while still<\/em> inviting honesty from others around you. The best way to do this is to go first<\/a>: If you want to know what others are having a hard time with, share what you\u2019re having a hard time with first.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Ask about cereal.<\/strong><\/a> Don\u2019t be afraid to have fun. Great leaders bring levity\u200a\u2014\u200anot just workload\u200a\u2014\u200ato their team. Pose a light-hearted question or share a little-known fact about yourself with the team. Believe it or not, even something as seemingly innocuous as breakfast cereal can have a positive impact on your team\u2019s morale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Argue<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> It can feel counterproductive, but once you move past the initial discomfort, you\u2019ll soon realize that arguing is a sign that you (and your employees) care. Not only that, but you\u2019ll be presented with more options from which you can make even better decisions as a leader. Don\u2019t shy away from disagreements: Lean into them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Do a double-take when someone says, \u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d to you.<\/strong> This one phrase that signals<\/a> your employee might be disengaged\u200a\u2014\u200aso if you hear it, perk up your ears. You need to dig more, and get to root of understand if things are truly<\/em> fine, or if it\u2019s an answer they are defaulting too, because there\u2019s more below the surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Remember, you\u2019re the boss<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>This means that a seemingly casual comment from you might be interpreted as a strict mandate from you team. This means that when you show up to a meeting, people aren\u2019t going to feel as comfortable sharing \u201creal talk\u201d for how things in the company are actually going. The more you\u2019re aware that there\u2019s a power dynamic that exists, the more you can understand the best ways to support and interact with your team.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Don\u2019t skip <\/strong>one-on-one meetings<\/strong><\/a>!<\/strong> Yes, they are time-consuming. Yes, you seem to be scheduled at the most inconvenient times (when you\u2019re crazy busy, naturally). Yet, one-on-ones are potentially your most powerful tool as a leader for unearthing potential problems and issues your team my be facing. If you\u2019re unsure where to start, here are some tips<\/a> to help you make the most of your one-on-ones.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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