10 Things To Remove To Create Engagement

Successful designs engage through their simplicity. Simplicity of design, of use or of the idea. Engagement is the same....today I want to look at employees and then tomorrow consumers. So how can a leader learn from sometimes removing (Think McDonalds and waiters, think iPOD and buttons) complexity to create a new consumer experience ?

1. Bureaucracy creep. Nothing irritates, nothing reduces employee engagement more than reports to be written and meetings that people have got to go to, but no one knows why....
2. Uncertainty. Leaders need to make decisions quickly and decisively.
3. Barriers. Leaders exist to help their team succeed. If there is a barrier then you need to support and coach the team member through the barrier - whether emotional or physical.
4. Confusion. Leaders need to give a clear direction, clear objectives, clear accountabilities and responsibilities.
5. Communication gaps. No communication is communication! It communicates a lack of leadership.
6. Low hanging fruit. Often it is the small issues that cause the biggest tension - just ask someone who is desperate to get a report out and the copier is broken! By taking small issues seriously, you show that you care...
7. Unfairness. People will accept decisions when they are taken across the board. Nothing reduces engagement further than two situations being dealt with differently.
8. Paper Forms. We have all been there, you need to fill out a form for a new biro....
9. Fear of failure. Stagnation occurs when people are watching their backs, in fear of failure. Leaders should protect the team and the company by fearing stagnation more than failure.
10. Doors! Metaphorically of course. Accessibility and cross functional working are the heartbeat of the organisation. If leaders or departments are behind closed doors then they create a natural engagement barrier.

Next time you look at that great product or service that you couldn't live with out, think about why it engages you...That simplicity can be taken to leadership. Leadership is not about adding all the time, it is about taking away barriers to success.

Comments

[Gayle Howard]

Every time I see the term "Bureaucracy Creep"--I get a smile on my face (not because I like "the creep" but because it is a phrase that really nails the insidious nature of it!

[Trina E. Roach]

Hello Anna,

I just happened upon your blog and feel especially inspired by this post. Because I recently wrote a post on my own blog called "How Can You Succeed If You Don't Make Mistakes", # 9 resonates with me in a special way. To many organizations and managers give lip-service to allowing employees (and themselves!) the room to make mistakes. In reality, mistakes are seldom tolerated while the CYA (or: Cover Your *ss) brand of leadership is the adhesive too many managers use to stay as firmly planted in their chairs as possible.

Thanks for the confirmation - and the inspiration!

[Anna Farmery]

The strange thing is, that the phrases are very emotive, that we see them all over a workplace and yet the steps are very simple to put right. I wonder why they are so endemic? I wonder why people don't understand people?
Thanks for stopping by and both of your comments really appreciate it....they are the source of my inspiration!