Q: What’s on the minds of your employees?
A: Getting better at what they do and being allowed to contribute to the greater good of the organization. Really, that’s all that is on their minds. Go ahead and ask them.
Okay, well maybe updating their Facebook status is also on their minds. Tweeting that they are in the bathroom. Texting their significant other about the romantic weekend that is being planned.
So how do you get as much productivity and interest as Facebook, tweeting and texting?
It’s easy.
Ask questions.
So much could be learned about employees if we asked them some questions versus jumping to conclusions (or thinking you know it all). Employee morale would improve. Employee engagement might increase. Productivity just might soar. You might have happy employees. But you don’t want truthful answers in order to get those results, right?
Below is a partial entry from Diary of the Happiest Employee on Earth: 52 Provoking Thoughts for Creating a Great Workplace. Why not take some time soon (maybe even today) and give these some thought.
Week #42
Dear Diary,
Arrived to work Monday morning and found these 7 questions on my desk. Boss asked me to answer them by the end of day:
- This is a great place to work because?
- I could contribute more to my employer if?
- In order for me to improve my skills I would need?
- The things I like most about my job are?
- The things I would like to see improve at my job are?
- If I could have any job in the company it would be?
- My latest contribution to the organization was?
On Tuesday morning there was a note on my desk to…
Why not use one of these questions to get to know your employees better? Perhaps use them as a meeting ice breaker. Take a Recess one day next week and have a conversation with your team. And if you want to know what the note said you’ll have to email me or buy the book
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RICH DIGIROLAMO, founder Recess At Work, works with organizations to create happier work environments, strengthen work teams, design new programs, and create better relationships with customers and peers. In his new book Diary of the Happiest Employee on Earth: 52 Provoking Thoughts for Creating a Great Workplace he talks about why it is important for every employee to understand as much of your business as possible.
Are you ready to take a Recess with Rich, inject some new energy into your organization and create an even better employee experience?