Employees are considered one of the most critical elements in organizational success as engaged employees work smarter, produce much more, are more motivated, and loyal. They also go further than just the job details.
Leadership shows crucial importance in driving employee engagement. The following represent key ways through which leaders can promote this engagement.
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Create a Positive and Supportive Work Environment
Leaders set the tone in workplace culture; therefore, they tend to help create a work environment that encourages employees to grow and feel they are part of something greater than them. This kind of behavior is promoted in an open environment and encourages the following behaviors:
Open Communication: All things affecting the employees should be communicated without passing judgment
Recognize and Reward Your Employees: Value the employees’ input and award or recognize achievements
Promote Work-Life Balance: Flexible work arrangements and employee well-being have the potential to encourage a healthy work-life balance
Establish Clear Expectations and Objectives
Employees need to know what they do and why. Leaders should provide clear expectations and goals, and ensure that employees have the resources and support they need to succeed.
Empower Employees
Empower the employees to give them autonomy and responsibility. This will make the employees feel valued and get motivated enough, as empowered employees are more likely to be proactive regarding their duties and go the extra mile.
Lead by Example
The leader must lead by example, which means leading by modeling the behaviors and values that he or she expects of employees. The positive behaviors as seen in model leadership exemplify inspiration and motivate the team.
Build Trust
Trust is the foundation of power relationships and motivation to work. Leaders should be transparent, honest, and consistent in their communication. They should also admit mistakes and learn from them.
