A Saratoga Institute study found that 89% of managers believe that most employees are pulled away by better pay. Yet the data reveals that, in 88% of voluntary turnovers, something besides money is the root cause.
Recently the Gallup Organization reported: "In average organizations, the ratio of engaged to actively disengaged employees is about 2:1."This troubling statistic implies about half the employees in most companies are simply punching the clock, getting by with minimum effort, and showing up at work to collect paychecks and health benefits.
"Actively disengaged employees erode an organization's bottom line while breaking the spirits of colleagues in the process. Within the U.S. workforce, Gallup estimates this cost to be more than $300 billion in lost productivity alone" (www.Gallup.com, August 23, 2011).
Actively disengaged employees are not excited about their jobs, they are disconnected from the work community, and they can have bad attitudes...resulting in limited innovation, minimal teamwork, lackluster customer focus.
What is the antidote for actively disengaged employees?
Ultimately, it's the leader's effectiveness in creating vision for a preferred future, in establishing an appropriate, values-driven culture that determines the level of employee engagement and thereby, organizational results.
The antidote for actively disengaged employees is vision, empowerment, trust and fulfillment. And the best remedy is a leader who will embrace and practice values-based leadership.
Are you a values-based leader? Ask yourself the following questions and rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (highest). Better yet, ask your employees to rate you - the answer you receive will indicate how close, or how far, you are from being a values-based leader.
* Provide vision and direction
* Do I provide a compelling vision for the future?
* Do I articulate and live-out corporate values, leading by example?
* Do I act with integrity, valuing people over profit?
* Do I relate to others with humility and compassion?
* Do I strive to provide fulfillment and significance for all employees?
* Do I foster empowerment and teamwork?
* Do I communicate with and coach my team effectively?
* Do I demand accountability for myself and others?
Values-based leadership is about you aligning with and living-out corporate values on a daily basis. It's about you as a transformational leader bringing true value to employees, suppliers and customers rather than seeking personal rewards, recognition or power.
Wiser than showing half of your staff the door would be examining answers to the questions above. Becoming a values-based leader will make a positive difference in your organization, in the lives of your employees and in your own career.
Will you be the antidote to the Disengaged Employee Epidemic?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
TALK THE WALK
Have you ever said something about yourself or referred to something you wanted to do and then thought, "Why did I say that? What are people thinking of me right now? They must think I am boasting or have a big ego!" If so, then that may be why you can't clarify your purpose, simply because you are not comfortable talking about or referring to yourself. Don't worry, however, for I have someone who can help you. Read on.
DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?
So David, armed with the right equipment (a sling and some stones), stepped onto the battlefield to face this fearsome giant. Immediately he was confronted with some daunting threats from this behemoth:
He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" (1 Samuel 17:43-44).
Now if David was like some people I know, he would have then said, "Well, maybe, I mean perhaps the Lord may want to use me, but don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I know for sure and if something good does happen, it will be the Lord and not me. I don't want you to ever think it's me."
Fortunately, David was of a different mindset. When Goliath verbally attacked, David was quick to retaliate:
"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
What bravado! What courage! What confidence David had! There was nothing tentative in what he said or planned to do. He was bold and specific. Many think that kind of talk alienates God. Are you one of those who thinks that? If so, then you need to change the way you think!
God isn't repelled by such talk; that talk drew Him to David's cause. He promptly went out with David to meet the giant. David made good on his promises, while Goliath died trying to figure out what went wrong.
TALK THE WALK
How can you apply this lesson to your life right now? First, David had a track record from which he could draw. He had killed lions and bears, and he saw killing this giant as a continuation of those exploits. You must allow God to put you in challenging situations so that, when you overcome, you will be able to refer back to those experiences to help you fight future battles.
Second, you must know who you are and what you want to do. David did not hold back; he was clear and concise. He said, "I am a champion of God and you, Goliath, are not. You are coming down, in spite of your size, words and confidence."
Finally, David said what he was going to do without fear of what others thought of him. He spoke positive, affirming, and powerful words and then set about fulfilling them, even thought he was young - a lot younger than all those soldiers, his brothers, and even King Saul.
What are you speaking these days? A better question is what aren't you speaking? Tentative, faithless words produce tentative, faithless actions. Positive, powerful words produce similar actions. Stop being hesitant and fearful of making bold statements where your purpose and dreams are concerned. Dream great things, talk about them and don't worry about how you sound to other people. Only be concerned with how you sound to God.
Many people are concerned with walking the talk, but if you aren't talking about what you are going to do with God's help, you won't have anything to walk! Dream great things, talk about doing them and then go for it! It's simple to describe but not simple to do, I know. I also know that you can only do great things once you stop stumbling and mumbling through your purpose and dreams. Every day this week, you need to watch what you don't say and follow David's example.
DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?
So David, armed with the right equipment (a sling and some stones), stepped onto the battlefield to face this fearsome giant. Immediately he was confronted with some daunting threats from this behemoth:
He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" (1 Samuel 17:43-44).
Now if David was like some people I know, he would have then said, "Well, maybe, I mean perhaps the Lord may want to use me, but don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I know for sure and if something good does happen, it will be the Lord and not me. I don't want you to ever think it's me."
Fortunately, David was of a different mindset. When Goliath verbally attacked, David was quick to retaliate:
"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
What bravado! What courage! What confidence David had! There was nothing tentative in what he said or planned to do. He was bold and specific. Many think that kind of talk alienates God. Are you one of those who thinks that? If so, then you need to change the way you think!
God isn't repelled by such talk; that talk drew Him to David's cause. He promptly went out with David to meet the giant. David made good on his promises, while Goliath died trying to figure out what went wrong.
TALK THE WALK
How can you apply this lesson to your life right now? First, David had a track record from which he could draw. He had killed lions and bears, and he saw killing this giant as a continuation of those exploits. You must allow God to put you in challenging situations so that, when you overcome, you will be able to refer back to those experiences to help you fight future battles.
Second, you must know who you are and what you want to do. David did not hold back; he was clear and concise. He said, "I am a champion of God and you, Goliath, are not. You are coming down, in spite of your size, words and confidence."
Finally, David said what he was going to do without fear of what others thought of him. He spoke positive, affirming, and powerful words and then set about fulfilling them, even thought he was young - a lot younger than all those soldiers, his brothers, and even King Saul.
What are you speaking these days? A better question is what aren't you speaking? Tentative, faithless words produce tentative, faithless actions. Positive, powerful words produce similar actions. Stop being hesitant and fearful of making bold statements where your purpose and dreams are concerned. Dream great things, talk about them and don't worry about how you sound to other people. Only be concerned with how you sound to God.
Many people are concerned with walking the talk, but if you aren't talking about what you are going to do with God's help, you won't have anything to walk! Dream great things, talk about doing them and then go for it! It's simple to describe but not simple to do, I know. I also know that you can only do great things once you stop stumbling and mumbling through your purpose and dreams. Every day this week, you need to watch what you don't say and follow David's example.
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