What People Really Want at Work

I recently read an article in Forbes about the linkage between common sense and great cultures.  S. Chris Edmonds, the author, points out that many top leaders forget to consult their common sense when figuring out how to lead other people.  In forgetting, leaders make things far more complicated than they need to be and risk creating a disengaging, demeaning work culture.

I have seen this scenario play out firsthand in countless companies during my career, which is why I created a simple four-step process to increase trust in senior leadership and an employee’s emotional connection to the company.  Many leaders tell me they think employee engagement is difficult and I tell them that’s because they are over complicating things.

At the end of the day, virtually every person in this world wants a handful of things from their work environment:

• To have a voice and be heard.
• To know that what they do every day has meaning and is making a difference.
• To be acknowledged, appreciated, and recognized.
• To learn and grow.

Very few people are motivated strictly by money.  People simply want to know that they matter.  That’s it. Inherently, I think most leaders know this, but they get so caught up in thinking that employee engagement is difficult, that they muddy the waters and lose sight of how simple it is to lead effectively.

BE AWESOME.  If you are making things more difficult than they have to be, make it a point to see me speak live in 2017.  I promise that you will walk away from the event with a renewed understanding that it’s the simple things that matter most, clarity on next steps, and inspiration to achieve your employee engagement goals. Creating a meaningful, engaging culture is the most important thing you can do to ensure the long-term success of your business.  Commit to it today.