Page 170 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

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Partnering

5. State of the Union. CEOs should regularly update
employees on major business issues. Depending on the com-
pany’s size and technological sophistication, the presentation
can be streamed over the company intranet and recorded as
a video and audio podcast. Ideally, the CEO would also enter-
tain questions. At a minimum, the CEO should send out a
company-wide weekly e-mail or hardcopy news update.
6. You know what I know. As a leader in your organiza-
tion nothing communicates partnering more than keeping
an open flow of information to your employees. Never leave
your employees wondering if you are withholding informa-
tion. Keeping employees well informed will keep them
well engaged.
7. Drumbeat meeting. Every morning, team members
gather and give a quick update of their work plan for the day.
The meeting should also be used to ask questions, clarify
issues from the day before or that day, and request assistance.
To expedite the meeting, people should remain standing.
8. Self-development. Employees should be responsible for
creating and executing their development plans. Supervisors
should provide resources, support, and guidance; however,
the employees should be the ones to drive their development
and be held accountable.
9. Cross-training. The best way to foster partnering within
your department is to cross-train people so that they know one
another’s jobs and can support one another. Each employee
should be sufficiently qualified to cover two other positions
for a period of at least two weeks.
10. Department swap. To foster partnering among depart-
ments, regularly have employees spend time learning about
and cross-training in different departments. Also, depart-
ment meetings should include team members from other