The Happier 9 to 5 Initiative: Combating the Negative Effects of Disengaged and Unsatisfied Employees

By Dr. Stephen Kalaluhi

President & Co-Founder, K2 Development Systems, Inc.

Founder, The Happier 9 to 5 Initiative

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Disengaged and unsatisfied employees cost companies in the U.S. more than $500 billion annually in lost productivity and employee turnover. What flabbergasts me is the fact that 85% of employees surveyed self-identified as disengaged, and 18% of them identified as actively disengaged.

What on God’s green earth is being done to eradicate the negative effects associated with disengaged and unsatisfied workers? From the outside looking in, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot going on in terms of improving the overall satisfaction levels of employees.

Now, please don’t take this as judgment. I simply want what’s best for your employees and your organization. Simply standing by and watching as companies across this nation implode is no longer an option.

That’s why The Happier 9 to 5 Initiative was launched. The Happier 9 to 5 Initiative exists to educate, equip, and empower leaders to increase employee engagement, improve organizational satisfaction, and enhance the overall levels of employee retention by implementing simple, yet effective, systems, processes, and procedures designed to help an organization and its people flourish and thrive.

You Can’t Expect What You Don’t Communicate

One of the easiest and simplest ways to increase the engagement and satisfaction levels of your employees is to communicate what you expect from them. Now, before you get all self-righteous on me saying, “Really? Is this the best you’ve got? We’ve already communicated our expectations, genius,” let me explain.

Your expectations, and I do mean all of them, must be in writing and explicitly state what you want, when you want it, how you want it done, and by when each step needs to be complete. There can be zero room for interpretation and there can be no ambiguity. In this instance, the clearer you are in communicating your expectations, the more surety your employees have regarding giving you exactly what you want.

Nothing is worse that putting in hours of blood, sweat, and tears into a project, only to find out the finished product wasn’t even close to what you wanted or expected.

Why This Works

Clearly communicating expectations to your employees gives them confidence to know exactly what you want and exactly how you want it done. Removing the ambiguity and room for interpretation creates a solid foundation from which your employees can build something great. When you clearly communicate what you want and how you want it done, your employees can rest in the assurance that their time, effort, and energy expended on their project isn’t going to for not.

So, What Are You Waiting For?

This step is so easy and simple you can start it today. Like, right now. You see, a large percentage of respondents stated their lack of engagement was rooted in them not knowing what was expected of them, and them being measured against expectations they were never made aware of.

You have the opportunity to improve the engagement of your employees, while simultaneously improving their overall satisfaction. And all it takes from you is simply communicating, in writing, what you expect from your team.

Almost seems too simple, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately, I believe this is one of the reasons so few leaders do it.

Try it out for yourself and see the difference this simple change can make.

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Kalaluhi is the President and Co-Founder of K2 Development Systems, Inc., and the Founder of The Happier 9 to 5 Initiative. As a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, a FORBES Coaches Council Member, the Host of The Business Doctor TV Talk Show, and the Author of Build Grow Scale Repeat: The Definitive Guide to Creating Success in Business, Dr. Kalaluhi exists to educate, equip, and empower organizations to flourish and thrive.

Should you have questions about increasing employee engagement, enhancing organizational satisfaction, or improving the overall levels of retention within your organization, simply click the link below to schedule your complimentary Leadership Solution session with Dr. Kalaluhi today!

Schedule your session HERE.