Opportunity Knox

Employee engagement comes from within the individual. Opportunities to focus thinking and feeling about engagement can come from management. Provide sufficient, valuable opportunities and enjoy a Ft. Knox-worth of engagement.

What would happen if you

• offered a monthly forum for your employees
• that was totally voluntary,
• lasted no more than an hour during the workday
• to let employees share with one another what they do well?

How would it look if this forum

• featured up to 5 employees
• who each spent 10 minutes
• sharing what they do,
• including difficulties they encounter
• and pleasures they receive from doing it?

Would it increase the "engagement value" if

• employees spoke of specific functions, specific projects,
• cited strengths they call on to do their jobs, and
• spoke from feelings about how (well) they perform?

What might be the value-add if you

• gave the forum a name, a theme, a banner title, a personality,
• made it fun and festive, perhaps with refreshments, and
• tied on some informal, post-forum recognition and appreciation of those who share?

Such a forum is a plain and simple Opportunity for you and your employees to talk about, to know, and to appreciate one another's engagement in what you do.

PS...Who is to say

• managers and supervisors cannot take part and share their engagement as well?

Comments

[David Zinger]

SOLID GOLD, no maybe liquid gold as this would be fluid and spread through oranizations. What a wonderful idea Tim. Do you know organizations that are doing this?

[Tim Wright]

David -

Thanks. I know of many organizations (aka "clients") to whom I've offered this or similar Opportunity suggestions. I only know of one or two who have demonstrated willingness to make the time/energy available to put such in motion.

But I'm keeping tabs and I'm continuing to recommend. I'll surely keep you posted.

Tim

[Darryl]

HI,
We run somethign very similar in our business called an Open Lunch. 10 people are invited to attend lunch (bring their own) with our CEO and (a rotating schedule of) one of his team. its a totally open forum for people to ask whatever they want and get a direct answer. People really like it and feel like they've been heard.
I then compile the Qs and As and send out to the rest of the business - its about being transparent even with any sensitive issues.

If anyone is thinking about it - just do it.

[Tim Wright]

Darryl -

Thank you for the great example of a true engagement Opportunity.

I'm betting you experience a sense of personal reward being a key Resource in the process.

Tim

[Darryl Mead]

Yes I do feel a sense of reward, but its great to see people interacting and finding answers for themselves.