Is It Time to Get Engaged?

By Susan D. Rostkoski, Principal Consultant

Given the high-stress environment all around us, it is no wonder that your work team might seem disengaged from their own role, their environment, or their colleagues. 

I have two suggestions to stir up enthusiasm for whatever work you are doing: corporate, nonprofit, government, or self-employed. While each is part of a process, I believe from personal experience that they are enormously relevant to reviving and energizing your team—and yourself. 

1.Impact – “to have a direct effect on” It’s time to ask yourself whether the individuals on your team know how their role affects the end user. My favorite example is the transformation that occurred in a corporate setting. I was leading a large car rental company’s operation, when I noticed that many of the staff had a “clock in, clock out” mentality (i.e., just get through the day).  

Asking these folks some questions about how to revitalize the climate, we came up with a variety of ideas, one of which turned out to be the turning point. We asked our front-line people (counter agents, bus drivers) to help us get an idea of why our customers were renting a car. A small container placed on each counter and in the buses along with easily accessible surveys and pens, yielded a wealth of information: “My grandmother died, and I am going to her funeral.” “I have an interview that could change my career course – wish me luck!” “My wife and I need some time away.” We gathered these together, printed them on laminated cards and posted them in employee areas: lunchrooms, work spaces (for mechanics and “garage men”), and administrative offices (finance, human resources, manager’s office). The impact was gradual but certain. Our staff began to see that they were an important part of our customers’ lives, facilitating whatever was next for them on that day. 

2. Relevance – “practical and especially social applicability” Joe was a maintenance person at the nonprofit where I worked. One day, he attended an all-staff meeting I was conducting where at one point I said, “All staff are fundraisers/resource development people.” Afterwards, Joe let me know how ludicrous this statement was and that it just made him feel guilty, not inspired. I asked him to have coffee with me that afternoon to better understand his feelings. What I realized during that conversation was that Joe hadn’t seen an obvious connection between resource development and his own work.  

So, as we chatted, I asked Joe to tell me about what inspired him outside of work. He talked about a Boy Scout troop that was led by his neighbor and with which he assisted from time to time. He enjoyed seeing the boys grow and change and become young men. It was then that I asked him whether they ever did service projects—and I could see the light come on in his eyes. “Yes, we do,” he said, “and we could do one here, couldn’t we?” It wasn’t too long before the Boy Scout troop held a food drive, helped paint a crafts room, and showed up to assist staff at our table at the annual Thanksgiving Walk for Hunger. Joe WAS a resource development person. He just needed to see the relevance in his own life. 

The perennial favorite holiday movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” seems to me to embody both characteristics: Impact and Relevance. So get your popcorn, a beverage, and a warm blanket and check it out. 

As always, please contact us if we can help you accomplish your mission (www.strategic-cc.com).