Getting your employees engaged requires consistency. They need to see leaders be consistent and they need to know that company policies are applied consistently.
In regards to leadership, one of the biggest weaknesses for leaders is their lack of consistency. The data shows that an Attila the Hun leadership style that is consistent is better than the leader that one day is angel and the next the devil. These angel/devil leaders can truly be the ruin of a good employee. I am sure you have seen it action - the employee can never appease the leader because they are never confident on which leader shows up for the day - angel or devil. I encourage all leaders to evaluate their consistency by asking their employees directly or through some type of survey.
Consistency in the application of company policies is equally important. I am sure that many of you have policies, but are they applied consistently to everyone in your company. Do managers get exceptions to company policy or do your managers apply policies on favoritism and friendship? If so, you will have a huge uphill climb in getting your employees engaged. This is true even if you are the owner or CEO that is a consistent leader.
If you go to the work to create policies, then you must follow those policies - if not - do not bother in the effort of writing policy or creating employee handbooks. Once again, if you want to know if the company policy is applied consistently - ask your employees.
Take the plunge into cool and be consistent!
Comments