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?
