L.F. SPARK Ed. 2: Engage your People! Not Just Engagement, but Quality Engagement.

L.F. SPARK Ed. 2: Engage your People! Not Just Engagement, but Quality Engagement.

Engagement: Most have heard of the popular quote “no one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” People who are treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect, and are taken care of will be more apt to be safe, come to work, work at work, and stay at work. Bottom line, people who feel genuinely engaged with the utmost sincerity are more likely to generate success for them and you.

Failures:

Not Understanding the Difference between Empathy and Sympathy: Not all leaders understand the difference between empathy and sympathy, and often misuse this approach. Not all can be sympathetic, meaning leaders cannot always understand what someone is experiencing, because the leader may not have experienced that situation. Empathy allows leaders to express their understanding from the perspective and/or needs of those they are communicating with.

• Tip: Show genuine interest in those you lead and their situations. Each person we interact with is in a unique position in life. It’s the leader’s job to understand that and demonstrate empathy when communicating.
• How To: Give your people your most precious resource, time. Giving people your time means being authentic and sincere; actively listening to understand, not to respond; and practicing self-awareness. Bottom line: ask, listen, reflect, and respond if needed or required … then, follow-up frequently.

Not Scheduling Adequate and Timely 1:1 Touch Bases: Leaders should not wait until the official performance evaluation meeting to discuss performance. Waiting to discuss performance during official sessions does not allow your people to understand where they stand and what they need to improve.

• Tip: Leaders must set the intent to meet with their people at least twice a month, even if it’s not performance based and just an opportunity to have a focused conversation without the distractions of the daily grind.
• How To: First, create an environment of open communication. Second, let your team know that self-development and initiative will get them further down the road to personal and professional success. Third, schedule planned meetings to discuss various issues, SMART goal tracking, and possible avenues to improve on before the official session.

Not Being Self-Aware or Showing Compassion: It is very challenging to relate to or connect with your people’s life experiences or personal journeys. Quite honestly, a leader often will not be able to relate. Therefore, it takes a conscious, dedicated effort to connect to the emotions and stories they display or share.

• Tip: Read and understand the true value of Emotional Intelligence (EI/EQ). Understanding EI allows leaders to learn about self-awareness, self-compassion, and compassion all together. Being kind and nonjudgmental to self allows us to practice the same for others, which allows leaders to build trust and create environments of psychological safety.
• How To: Check out Daniel Goleman’s book on Emotional Intelligence and why it matters more than IQ. Seek to understand your values and the values of those you lead. Seek feedback from others and provide feedback to others as needed or requested. Practice gratitude and create a positive climate so when you engage with your people, they know you are there for support and with good intent.