If you still don't know what to do for employee engagement - DOSE Them!

We often talk about leader's role in increasing the productivity, performance or teamwork in employees however the process is confusing for a lot of people, which is the most important factor because if, as a leader I do not have a clear direction to follow and not sure about HOW to go about the above mentioned aspirations than I would probably end up doing nothing.

In the evolving world we are in, a leader is not just responsible about the performance of their team but also the wellbeing of people. An addition to the leader's role is making sure that the team is not just performing at peak but also feeling great.

Surprisingly, as a leader we have a major influence on the mood, feelings and performance of our people and the peak or atleast closer to peak can be achieved by a chemical DOSE.

Now the connection of leadership and a chemical DOSE might seem a little confusing but, here's what I am saying..

This DOSE doesn't come in the form of IVs or Capsules. It's already there and your role as a leader is to just increase the amount of the DOSE. This DOSE is:

Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins

These four together are called four 'feel-good hormones' and are responsible for our positive feelings.

Before you get confused, Lets dive deep to know more about these hormones and how can a leader give a DOSE of?happiness .

Dopamine - is a neurotransmitter that is involved in reward and pleasure, as well as motivation and focus. Low levels of dopamine are associated with feelings of boredom and lack of motivation, while higher levels are linked to increased motivation and focus.

How to increase dopamine levels in your teams?

1. Set clear goals and expectations: Dopamine is released when we achieve a goal or make progress towards a target. Leaders can help to increase dopamine levels by setting clear goals and expectations for their team members and regularly reviewing progress.
2. Encourage autonomy and creativity: Dopamine levels can increase when we feel a sense of control and autonomy in our work. Leaders can encourage autonomy and creativity by giving their team members the freedom to solve problems and come up with new ideas.
3. Provide opportunities for learning and growth: Dopamine is released when we learn new things and experience novel situations. Leaders can provide opportunities for learning and growth by offering training and development programs and encouraging their team members to take on new challenges.
4. Foster a positive work environment: A positive and supportive work environment can help to increase dopamine levels and boost motivation. Leaders can foster a positive work environment by showing appreciation and support for their team members.

Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is involved in a range of social behaviors, including bonding, trust, and empathy. It has been shown to have a number of potential benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving social connections, and increasing feelings of trust and bonding.

How to increase oxytocin levels in people?

1. Encouragement: Oxytocin is released in the brain when we engage in physical touch, such as holding hands, or patting someone on the back, Giving high-fives. Leaders can encourage physical touch in appropriate ways to help boost oxytocin levels.
2. Foster a sense of trust and connection: Leaders can foster trust and connection by being transparent, genuine, and approachable, and by building strong relationships with their team members.
3. Encourage teamwork and collaboration: Oxytocin levels can increase when we work together with others towards a common goal.
4. Encourage empathy and compassion: Leaders can encourage empathy and compassion by showing understanding and support towards their team members in both personal & professional challenges

Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter that is involved in a range of functions in the body, including mood, appetite, and sleep. Low levels of serotonin are associated with feelings of sadness and depression, while higher levels are linked to feelings of well-being and happiness.

There are several ways that leaders can help to increase serotonin levels in the people they lead:

1. Encourage physical activity: Encourage your team to make regular exercise, a part of their routine. Leaders can also try to introduce some collective accountability within their teams. For e.g: Daily morning meeting will start with everyone sharing their individual steps-count OR the physical activity regime that they did on the previous day
2. Promote a healthy diet: A diet that is rich in tryptophan (an amino acid that is converted into serotonin in the brain), can help to increase serotonin levels. Things like poultry, eggs, nuts, and seeds.

3. Provide support and encouragement: A supportive and encouraging work environment can help to boost serotonin levels and improve mood. Leaders can show their support and appreciation for their team members through words of encouragement and recognition.

4. Encourage relaxation and stress management: Chronic stress can deplete serotonin levels, so it is important to encourage relaxation and stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.

Endorphins are hormones that are produced by the body and are involved in pain relief and feelings of pleasure and well-being. High levels of endorphins are associated with reduced stress and improved mood.

How to increase Endorphins levels?

1. Encourage physical activity: Again endorphins are released in the body during physical activity, such as exercise or sports. Leaders can encourage their team members to get regular exercise as part of their daily routine to help boost endorphin levels.
2. Encourage social connections: Strong social connections and relationships are important for mental health and can help to increase endorphin levels. Leaders must try to reinforce friendships and a quality environment for social connections within their teams. This reduces toxicity, insecurity and a lot of other such negative emotions which eventually helps build social connections

Impact of these small initiatives can be understood by International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 's research on 5 minute walk at work. Results of researched showed that a 5 minute walk during work increased positive feelings and energy levels of employees. Another finding by Korn Ferry Survey indicated that "bad bosses"caused extra stress and mental health issues in their people.

And if we talk about caring for people then McKinsey research found that actions taken to improve employee mental health and job satisfaction led to an estimated 4.25 times return on investment for every dollar spent. Now that is a whopping return on investment

It is absolutely upto the discretion of the leader, whether to embed such initiatives or not. Not doing anything has had its impact, most of us are experiencing those impacts already in the form of organisations struggling to find the right talent and those who have a desperation, may start working but eventually will part-ways. I have recently seen, Gen-Z taking notable start to their careers in public sector organisations but leaving the place in a matter of some months, let alone sticking for the lifetime. In retrospect - not too long ago, if you end up getting work in a public sector organisation, you would be considered lucky and on the right trajectory.

So stop thinking that the young blood/potential work-force out there are looking for job-security which millenials or generations before them are. They are out and about and looking for things much more than that.

It falls onto you now, do you want to give them a DOSE and ensure engagement & retention or not.

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*If you found this useful, do share it with your friends and colleagues or tag them in the comments. Also, I would love to hear what your thoughts are.