When Does Engagement Come After The Honeymoon?

Before we marry someone, there’s generally a process of dating, getting to know someone, even living together. After the wedding, initially, there’s a honeymoon period. Over time, does the shine wear off? Let’s shift away from literal marriages to a metaphorical one – that of employer and employee – this journal article has a lot of data around the gradual loss of lustre and enthusiasm of employees over time. And, unusually, it also has a couple of useful and practical techniques to mitigate that loss. Pair engaged employees with engaged bosses. Makes sense.

I read the findings of an extensive piece of research into employee engagement by one of New Zealand’s largest companies. Cash incentives were the 2nd to bottom most effective driver of employee engagement. The top three were:

1. What my colleagues do
2. Regular performance feedback conversations
3. What my boss does.

The common thread of that top three definitely is the behaviour of frontline leaders so the journal article’s approach seems a sound one. Trouble is – there’s a shortage of engaged bosses. And the solutions to that are similar to the solutions to a troubled non-metaphorical marriage = counselling, separation or training…