The 3 P’s of Engagement and Empowerment
"Average managers play checkers, while great managers play chess." Marcus Buckingham
We’ve already established that engaged employees are exceptional employees, more productive and profitable than those who don’t feel connected . The role of a leader is to connect strategy to people, acting as the connective tissue. In this post, we’ll discuss how leaders can facilitate the engagement of the work force, including the building of an actionable 30-day plan.
Marcus Buckingham said: " Average managers play checkers, while great managers play chess." What does this mean? In checkers, each piece is the same - they’re all interchangeable. In chess, each piece is unique, and understanding the nuances of the game means using each piece to its advantage, making the most of its distinctive qualities. In the same way, the best managers respect, value, and capitalize on the unique strengths of every member of their team .
Think about one of your best bosses – what did they do differently? How did they make you feel? How did they help you to grow? One of the best ways of looking at how great managers inspire their teams is to break it down into the three P’s of engagement and empowerment.
- The first P stands for Purpose . What is the purpose of your team? In order to reach a destination, you must know where you’re going. Determine your team’s purpose, and you’ll be better equipped to utilize your team members.
- The second P is Passion . Also essential to management, it’s knowing that helping to motivate and communicate with your team is what you want to do with your life. A manager who is passionate about connecting with the team will inspire team members.
- The final P is Productivity. By making a clear connection between Purpose, Passion, and Productivity that positively impacts the business results, you will more easily sustain your team’s success. Rather than the high of superficial, trust-fall types of team-building exercises that will soon fade, building real connections means a team that’s engaged and productive.
How will you form your 30-day plan? Work together to identify your team purpose, and where you are falling short. Capture at least three specific reasons why you and the management team at your location need to focus on employee engagement.
In our next post, we’ll discuss actionable methods of bringing together your purpose, passion, and productivity, to inspire your team to greatness.
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