Page 208 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

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Consideration

19. “Nice picture.” Start a conversation with an employee
about something personal on his or her desk, such as a pic-
ture of a child or pet, or a piece of sports team parapherna-
lia. For example, “What kind of dog is that?” Follow up with
questions about the dog’s name and age; people love to talk
about their pets. Ideally, look for an area of common interest
with which you can connect and have continued conversa-
tion. Sports that are in season are ideal because they lend
themselves to ongoing dialogue. As always, make sure not to
dominate the conversation; it should be mostly the employee
speaking and you listening and asking questions. Don’t let
the conversation go on for more than a few minutes, and
never end with, “I guess we better get back to work.” Rather,
simply say, “It was good chatting with you.”
20. Personal work space. Encourage people to personal-
ize their work space. If yours isn’t, make sure to do so with
pictures of your family and pets. Doing so allows people to
get to know each other better. Personalized items, especially
pictures of family members, also help people remember what
is really important and can help lift their spirits when they
are frustrated, angry, or depressed.

The Bottom Line

Consider that acting considerately typically costs nothing and
pays huge dividends in employee loyalty, which reduces absen-
teeism, tardiness, and turnover. Unfortunately, those who
tend to discount the importance of consideration for employee
engagement are also typically those who have low empathy. Even
though you may not be naturally empathic, you can practice and