Why a sense of purpose is so powerful
A recent Gallup research showed that the more engaged the employees, the better their performance—even during the pandemic. Highly engaged teams outperformed on 11 business KPIs, including productivity, turnover, and profitability.
Why are some employees more engaged than others? Why do some perform better under the same conditions? While there are many factors at work here, one stands out: purpose. Employees who find their purpose fulfilled at work are better in every way.
Purpose gives meaning to people's lives, and not just at work. According to a McKinsey survey, 70% of employees said their sense of purpose is defined by work.
The pandemic has made purpose even more critical to a company's success. While everyone struggles in one way or another, having a purpose at work gives it a meaning beyond making a living.
How to help your employees with their purpose
When you help your employees feel purposeful at work: engagement, productivity, performance all get better. As a leader, you can do a few things right now to help fulfill your employee's purpose at work.
1. Believe in something bigger than yourself
Organizational purpose flows from the top-down. Do the managers and employees believe in your organization's overarching purpose? Do leaders inside the company reflect on its impact on the world? Communicate your organizational purpose with everyone inside the company.
2. Listen more
Listen, listen, listen. Encourage employees to share their purpose stories. Become their coach, not only managers.
3. Focus on overall employee well-being
In addition to having a purpose, an employee's physical health, mental wellness, and personal relationships all impact performance. As an organization, you should encourage holistic health.
4. Forge relationships
Managers should invest in building relationships with and among their reports. Having good relationships with coworkers boosts morale, creates a sense of purpose, and fosters organizational camaraderie.
5. Take a personalized approach
Every employee is different and needs personalized attention. Take into account their worldview, their life's journey, and the need for customized coaching.
Use your internal performance management tools to segment the employees who need personal support. Nurture their purpose on an individual level and help them fulfill it. Increased productivity, higher employee satisfaction, and individual performance gains will follow.
Comments
Post a Comment