PPB April 2021

leaders, watch for an increase in sick days or tardiness. These may indicate a personal issue, a temporary setback or it may be an engagement issue. Perhaps the teammember needs a new challenge or to take on a special project to feel reinvigorated. The pushback I get when I share this with managers is that they don’t have the time to check in on “every little issue.” To this I say, “You can make the time now or suffer the consequences later when it becomes a pattern and a habit that negatively spreads throughout the entire culture.” 3. Friendships and bonds form outside of work. Teams who form special bonds and friendships, and connect outside of work hours, are good indicators that members are engaged. Employees who truly enjoy each other’s company and form friendships will also work collaboratively as a whole to succeed. The mentality becomes a “us as a team” vs. an individual journey to success. If you notice that your team members display most or all of the above and their production levels and sales numbers indicate that they’re meeting their goals, chances are you’re doing an exceptional job at employee engagement. However, if you’ve read this list and are concerned that you have minimal or mediocre engagement, here are a few concrete ways you can positively impact engagement to give your team a boost. NINE WAYS TO BOOST ENGAGEMENT 1 Prioritize Health and Wellness Your health and your employees’ health are of utmost importance. When your team feels that you truly care about them as a whole person, they will work with a different level of commitment for you and your organization. So, where do you start? You don’t have to create a complicated health and wellness program; it can simply be getting a conversation started around mental health. As a leader, be transparent about your own journey towards optimal mental health and overall well-being. When you’re struggling, share that with your team. Many people cringe at that notion, so hear me out. When you’re having a rough day or rough week, and you tell your team that you’re struggling and need support or some time off, you make it OK for others to also not be OK. We must be an example to our team so that they know when to stop and recharge. It can be tempting to put production first, but if we burn the candle at both ends, we know it doesn’t end well for us or for the team that we’re pushing. 2 Peer-To-Peer Accountability Peer-to-peer coaching and accountability partners are simple ways to boost engagement and add a sense of heightened camaraderie. I do this with a weekly informal check-in which helps team members keep each other accountable for their work goals, personal goals, dreams and aspirations. 3 Have Your Team Lead The Charge Having teammembers take charge of engagement is always a great way to get buy-in. Small committees or “culture pods” can implement exercise clubs, adventure games, hikes and rewards for eating healthy or exercising. Let them take the lead and participate to show support and let the company provide the financial backing to help make each program a success. It doesn’t have to be costly, although it can. We used to do expensive grocery programs and order in organic snacks, but we found that smaller grocery store runs alongside employee-led health and wellness initiatives were most effective. 4 Increase Team Socials You can also boost engagement and team camaraderie by increasing the number of team socials you schedule. This gives team members a chance to see you and each other in a relaxed setting with no agenda. It’s a As a leader, be transparent about your own journey towards optimal mental health and overall well-being. | APRIL 2021 | 73 THINK