Leaders: Want to Engage Your Employees?

THESE 5 GUIDELINES CAN HELP

Turn Your Workplace Into a WOWplace®!

Introducing The WOWplace Rules:5 Rules for Higher Engagement

A Workplace is a place where EMPLOYEESHAVE to go because

they make a PAYCHECK

A WOWplace is a place where PEOPLELOVE to go because

they make a DIFFERENCE

Rule #1: A WOWplace is SAFE

Many experts agree that now, in the Information Age, there is a huge competitive advantage to be found in the tacit knowledge of your people.

Leaders must make it SAFE for them to share their knowledge, ideas and suggestions.

They won’t share if they don’t feel safe…

Safe from ridicule/

embarrassment

Safe from retribution/retaliation

Safe from having their ideas stolen

Safe from being ingnored/dismissed

You’re FIRED!

…even SAFE from overload…

…if you DO like their ideas!

Ask yourself:

Are our employees TRYING TO SUCCEED… or simply TRYING NOT TO FAIL?

There is a BIG

DIFFERENCE between these two mindsets!

Rule #2: A WOWplace is RESPECTFUL

WOW Leaders don’t DEMAND respect through their titles…

They COMMAND it through their words and actions.

Respect is earned…

…and RE-EARNED every day!

Eye Contact Being fully present Paying attention when people are talking to you Keeping your word Being honest and fair (no favoritism) Acting with integrity … and many more subtle ways to show respect!

Rule #3: A WOWplace is HUMAN… not HUMANOID

Remember the sales rule: People buy from people they know, like and trust.

Apply it to leadership: People engage with people they know, like and trust.

If you’re not “human” enough to engage with them, how can they get to know and like you enough to trust you?

Understand the human need to connect and share

Don’t be UN-authentic when you do it… and don’t suddenly change into a different person.

But you can: Share a brief story from your life or career to

connect with them or teach a point Learn, remember and use their names Remember and ask about special events and

details of their lives Praise/thank them for a job well done

Nice job on that project! Thanks!

WOW… he

noticed!

The best way to eliminate the “Us vs. Them” mentality…

… is to show them how like us they really are!

It’s easy to hate the “big, bad corporate entity.”

It’s not so easy to hate a relatable, human leader who cares about his/her people.

Rule #4: A WOWplace is INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE and FUN!

Allow people to break the status quo!

Don’t feel threatened by new ideas Encourage collaboration and

brainstorming Occasionally break down the silos

between departments so they can work better together

Eliminate the excuses that hold you back: “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” “That’s been tried before and it didn’t

work.”

T”“Allow them to have some fun!

People rarely succeed unless they’re having fun at what they’re doing.

- Dale Carnegie

Rule #5: A WOWplace is REWARDING

There are many kinds of rewards in the workplace … and many of them don’t involve money!

Thank you (verbal or written, especially hand-written)

Surprise time off Flexibility during times of crisis Promotion/raise Conference, training Gift card (to somewhere THEY like) Certificate Awards ceremonies Special parking space … and many more ideas… Be CREATIVE!!

Other rewards are important!

If we don’t want the paycheck to be the SOLE reason people come to work…

…then we can’t rely on the paycheck as the SOLE reward we offer for them to be there.

Many leaders delude themselves

They think: “Hey! I’m paying you good money to do your job… that should be enough!”

But human nature tells us that it’s not enough.The work environment often matters much more than the paycheck.

Don’t believe it?Just think back to a time when you finally left a job, saying,“The pay is fine (or even great!) – but it’s just not worth it!”

People need to know they matterand that what they do makes a difference.

They also need to know their efforts are appreciated.

So, the paycheck alone is not enough to keep them there –and engaged.

BONUS GuidelineConsistency is everything!

You can’t show up asDr. Jekyll one day andMr. Hyde the next.

Keep control of your: Actions Words Emotions

… but when you’re a leader, you need to strive for perfection, especially in the area of consistency.

You don’t have to be perfect…

Sandy Geroux delivers motivational keynotes and training programs on creating WOW experiences to help “Turn Your Workplace Into a WOWplace®.” Sandy’s programs for leaders help them master leadership skills and strengthen relationships with their teams.Her programs for team members and support staff inspire them to go the extra mile to find hidden WOW’s that add up to exceptional experiences for customers and co-workers.Sandy has helped over 25,000 attendees in 125 companies find ways to encourage creativity, tap into employees’ hidden/underutilized talents and interests, and create a culture of respect and service.Attendees describe her dynamic speaking style as enthusiastic, energetic and extremely motivating!

International speaker, trainer, and authorSandy Geroux, M.S.

Leadership Bingo™Sandy’s proprietary new leadership

assessment tool that plays like a game and works like a charm!

www.LeadershipBingo.comVisit www.theWOWplace.com for more information!E-mail: sandy@thewowplace.com ~ 407-856-1188