As the dog days of summer roll in, you might notice your team being a little slower to respond, or maybe a bit checked out during meetings. This dip in engagement is quite common this time of year, but as supervisors, it is essential to manage and support the team’s productivity and output.
So how can we help our teams stay engaged without teetering on burnout? We spoke with Ann Davison, Director of Strategic Communications and Executive Coaching, about modeling engagement in a healthy way during the latest Supervisors in Government Community of Practice session.
Below are a few key takeaways from the online session, along with the recording for additional insights.
- Let’s start with a quick definition of employee engagement: It’s the “extent to which people feel passionate about their jobs and are committed to the organization that they’re working in,” Davison explained. “This means that engaged employees aren’t just satisfied with doing the requirements; they’re emotionally invested in the success of the organization and their team.”
- Why is employee engagement so important right now? Engagement is closely tied to innovation and resilience, two qualities that are essential in a team, she explained. “If I feel engaged, I’m going to be able to take those difficult times a little better. I’m going to be able to withstand unexpected change and extreme events. I will build some resilience when I have higher engagement. So, in times of uncertainty, a highly engaged workforce can be a stabilizing force.”
- What is one immediate step that someone can take today to address employee engagement? Start thinking about how you want to address employee engagement in your organization, including what you want to learn about regarding the needs of your team, Davison suggested. “Set aside some time for yourself to get more proactive on this topic of employee engagement, and really build a growth mindset on this topic, not just with you, but with the members of your team. That’s a good place to start.” Davison also mentioned prioritizing one-on-one meetings with staff, and looking for ways to elicit feedback on how your team is feeling.
Interested in more insights on how to be a stronger supervisor? Join us on Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. ET to learn “Tips for Effective 1:1 Meetings,” to gain a deeper understanding of why one-on-ones matter so much, and how to make them more meaningful.