SMEs : Effective Leadership Strategies for Employee Engagement

Leadership/Engagement Example Three: Driving Engagement with Simple Rules

In this article, we share a leadership and engagement strategy that has proven successful in our organization. By implementing a "No lunch at your desk" rule and a convention of never parking in the same spot twice, we aim to create a culture of constant change and freshness. This approach extends to meetings, where we encourage movement and experimentation. These practices serve as a reminder of the importance of keeping things dynamic and innovative.

The Difference Process and Timing Make

Previously, our attempts to instil these behaviours faced resistance from our staff. However, through the adoption of a talk by Tim Schmidt and facilitating employee discussions, we were able to successfully implement these rules. The key difference this time was the process and timing, which led to greater acceptance and engagement among our team.

Working on Your Own Leadership Style

Many SME leaders claim they lack the time for leadership training. However, this perspective is often a result of unwillingness to prioritize such training. By reframing the thought process and acknowledging that it's a matter of priorities, leaders can make better decisions regarding their own development. Prioritizing leadership training is crucial, as research shows a strong correlation between effective leadership and business performance.

Measuring Your Own Effectiveness

To evaluate your effectiveness as a leader in driving employee engagement, measurement is essential. Whilst standard surveys may not be suitable for SMEs, platforms like SurveyMonkey offer free resources, and Tinypulse.com provides guidance on designing custom surveys. Consistency in some questions is crucial for tracking changes in engagement over time. The importance of clearly communicating the purpose and confidentiality of the survey should not be overlooked.

Embracing Leadership Principles

Leadership requires courage and adopting key principles. We share our ten leadership principles that guide our approach to employee engagement. By living these principles each day, leaders can create a supportive and engaged work environment.

Ten Leadership Principles:

1. Value loyal opposition and dissenting opinions.
2. Support all initiatives while avoiding favouritism.
3. Share knowledge and information generously with colleagues.
4. Willingness to change decisions, even if it may seem inconsistent.
5. Acknowledge that valuable advice can come from anyone, regardless of status or experience.
6. Stay focused on the big picture and prioritize time accordingly.
7. Replace "I don't have time" with "It's about how I prioritize time."
8. Embrace imperfection and start taking action instead of waiting for the perfect moment.
9. Avoid disconnect between external and internal portrayals of leadership style.
10. Understand that strong leadership requires moral courage and fortitude.

The above content is from "Mastering Small Business Employee Engagement: 30 Quick Wins & HR Hacks from an IIP Platinum Employer" by Barry Phillips and Jayne Gallagher which is available from Amazon

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