In this issue:

• Employee Engagement: The 5 Love Languages of the Workplace
• 3 Steps for Better Communication
• Did You Know?

Employee Engagement: The 5 Love Languages

The 5 Love Languages was originally released in 1995 by author, Gary Chapman.  Over the years, many companies have incorporated Chapman’s concepts into their workplace to improve communications.  However, although integrating these concepts are a great way to improve how we show appreciation, they may not be the key to employee engagement.

Each organization and workplace are unique and understanding the employee’s needs is a crucial element in designing the perfect employee experience.  A great company culture depends on more than just appreciation, but other key social dynamics as well.  Although, it is to be known that employee engagement and company culture are not the same.

Here’s why:

• Company culture supports and strengthens it’s workforce by taking the time to create a purpose-built culture, and by designing and implementing an employee experience that increases employee engagement.
• Employee engagement is more emotional, and describes how passionate, energetic and committed an employee is to their company and work.

Engagement is most prevalent when managers and leaders promote MAGIC (Meaning, Autonomy, Growth, Impact and Connection).  Companies must realize that inspirational statements such as their mission statement or corporate purposed do not equal employee experience.  It’s about asking what activities, such as leadership styles and conversations, must be part of workplace, and the best way to collect this information starts with your managers.

You’ll want to ask them to build a plan that touches upon an element each month, so keep reading for this MAGIC checklist!

• Meaning : The work has purpose beyond itself

  • Exercise: Hold a lunch meeting (lunch provided, of course), and have your employees answer: “How does our work in [your company name] help our organization win?” Limit their answers to one or two final suggestions, so they remain focused on the core aspects of the question.
    • Tip: Find a way to make it interactive with posters, signs, white boards, etc.

• Autonomy: The power to shape one’s work and environment in ways that allow them to perform at their best.

  • Exercise: Hold a one-on-one conversation with each employee to explore the level of autonomy they’d like to have in the workplace.  However, one major item managers should not do during this process is to make promises other than you will listen and make changes where you can.

• Growth: Being challenged and molded in ways that result in personal and professional progress.

  • Exercise: Meet and ask each employee to think of and prepare their own growth plan for the next 12-weeks.  This allows managers to keep their employees on track and accountable.

• Impact: Seeing positive results from someone’s work.

  • Exercise: Research stories about how your team’s work has impacted a customer’s experience.  Share this with your team and pin-point items they should continue to implement.

• Connection: The sense of belonging to something beyond the individual.

  • Exercise: Managers should create a recognition program that shares the success of individuals and teams.  This will continue and encourage the workplace’s ongoing culture.

By implementing and practicing this process, and creating engaging leaders out of front-line managers, employee experience will transform.  Employment Engagement will begin to thrive, and you will notice less turnover, meaningful innovation, and better productivity.

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3 Steps for Better Communication

Are you searching for ways to better communicate with others?  Do you find that your conversations with co-workers, family or friends are cut short? Not to worry, because HRi is here to help!

By following these 3 steps, you are sure to change your communication skills and increase conversational engagement in a positive way.

1. Be an Active Listening

• Let Others Talk: If an individual is telling you a story – don’t interrupt with a story of your own; even if it is relevant. This will come across as if you aren’t listening to what they have to say.
• Accept They May Disagree: Although someone may be coming to you for advice, don’t expect them to follow your suggestion. Allow them to choose their own path.
• Ask Open Questions: Rather than asking direct ‘yes or no’ questions; ask questions that are open so the speaker can choose the discussions direction.
• Show that You’re Listening: It’s been proven that people will trust you more if they know you’re listening. The best practice for this is to ask questions about what they’re telling you.

2. Be an Assertive Communicator

• Clearly express what you’re thinking what you want done, and how you feel. However, do this without demanding having things your way
• Being assertive brings many benefits: standing up for your own right and thoughts, making reasonable requests of other people, saying ‘no’ to other’s requests without feeling guilty.

3. Mind Your Body Language

• The way you speak is not the only way you communicate. Body language such as stance, physical gestures, and facial expressions all play a factor in how others reciprocate your message and mood.
  • For example: An open posture and relaxed stature will help others be more at ease; while sitting “tight” with your arms crossed may make others feel uncomfortable and defensive.
• The best way to remember good body language is through the acronym ROLES:

              R: Relax – and be comfortable

              O: Open – posture should be adopted

              L: Lean – towards the person to show interest

              E: Eye Contact – but don’t stare

              S: Squarely – face the person speaking

By proactively reminding yourself of these 3 tips, especially body language, your communication skills and conversations will improve.  Body language is one of the most important pieces, as the entire conversation can be affected by it.  Be sure to practice asking others about themselves, and remember to listen and let them speak without interruption.  Once you start, let us know the changes you see!

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