How to Create a Wave of Change
By WhyNot Partnering
Nearly 65% of all U.S. employees don’t feel engaged in the work they do. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that this is no different in the majority of other countries.
This statistic means nearly two-thirds of the working population are turning up, doing work, getting paid and going home dissatisfied and disengaged.
What are these organisations missing when it comes to engaging their people and why does it matter?
In our work supporting the Police Service in the UK, we saw first-hand what it looks like when people get fully engaged. This particular Police Service spent time to discover their Higher Purpose which served as the starting point to engage with their people in new ways. They embarked on an unprecedented journey to transform the way they delivered their services to the community.
As a result of discovering their Higher Purpose, everyone’s job changed and they defined a new, more efficient model for policing. Instead of the message coming from the top down through the ranks, they learnt how to touch, move and inspire their people and engage them fully in what matters most.
They painted a picture of the future where everyone inside the Service was enabled to do more of what was important to them and to fulfil on the Service’s Higher Purpose. This work was about “serving everyone in the community to ensure they are free from harm, so that they can lead fulfilling lives.” Who wouldn’t want to get behind that?
The amount of energy that was released, in terms of support, ideas, creativity and innovation was unbelievable. Taking action to solve problems and contributing to bringing these new ways of working into existence. With higher engagement, there was a release of discretionary effort, where people chose to bring more of themselves to the work they did. This does not look like a normal change process where resistance must be overcome and programs are rolled out from the top. It is more like a tidal wave of human potential energy released in service of a higher purpose.
Engaging Everyone is a way that we see and feel how the work contributes to enabling your organisation to fulfil on its Higher Purpose. Recall the story of the NASA toilet cleaner, who when asked by President Kennedy what he was doing, he replied, “I’m helping to put a man on the moon.” Like this gentleman, WhyNot believes it is possible for each of us to find meaning in what we do when it feels in service of something we care about.
In my own experience, I have observed three keys areas that give access to a fulfilling work life:
- Doing Work That Matters, knowing how our work contributes to our organisation’s cause, purpose or belief.
- Being valued for our unique contribution, feeling appreciated for who you are, as well as your strengths, talents and skills.
- Being part of a Healthy Environment, feeling cared for inside your organisation as you would care for your loved ones.
Here’s a test for us all. When you get home from work, are you talking to your family and friends about the contributions you’re making there, how it makes you feel and what you’re learning? Most importantly, the difference you are making in other peoples’ lives.
If not, you are most likely one of the 65% feeling disengaged. WhyNot believes you and all of us deserve better!
Freud said,
“Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.”
Please join us in our mission to help build organisations that are full of people that love the work they do.
This makes so much sense from a human and business perspective. Creating a sustainable and high performing business.
