Beware of the Office Zombie: 5 Ways To Prevent the ‘Working Dead’

When great employees don’t get what they need to thrive, they wither; your previously amazing rock star employee may transcend to one of the ‘working dead’..... that have quit, but stayed!!!   They may get sick a lot, become disheartened and don’t try anymore - overall team productivity takes quite a hit. You've probably witnessed it in action because this is a huge issue occurring worldwide!
 
According to Gallup less than 13% of employees are engaged worldwide – that means ‘working dead’ employees are all around us, but with a concerted effort you can bring them back from the brink while preventing the further demise of your very best people. 
 
Top 5 Ways to Prevent The Office Zombie Take Over:
 
1. Provide Feedback & Guidance
Great employees are often given ‘atta boys’ and ‘keep doing what you’re doing’ pats on the back but what they really crave is your candid feedback and guidance so they can stretch and learn more.  They want to know what are the right things to focus on, not just hear platitudes like ‘good job’.  Real candid feedback is a great gift when given with the sincere wish to help others develop their full potential.  Check out the statistics in this Forbes well named article: The Best Gift Leaders Can Give.  This the single most valuable tool in your tool kit so take time to learn how to develop the art of candid feedback (new blog in the making)!
 
2. Offer Interesting Work & Personal Development
Employees want to to be given opportunity and support to do work that they love to do.  In Daniel Pink - Drive’s book and You Tube RSA he points out that when people are able to develop mastery in a subject that is meaningful to them, they would work for free!  Take a moment to reflect on each of your team and ask yourself what they are great at and what development would they be seeking, validate your in your one on ones, then make a plan to enable the kind of personal development that would be meaningful to them.
 
3. Be A Considerate Leader
Close colleagues and family are important to each of us;  we want to work with a manager who realizes there is more in our life than just work, work, work (cue Rhianna) and who cares about our personal situations. Yes, work is work and personal life is personal life, but each and everyone of us juggles both!! The best leaders always take an interest in their employee’s lives, they make a point to know the names of their loved ones and ask about them.  Give your team the support they need to maintain social and family life and you'll have great return on that investment. Demonstrate your support - send notes, flowers or gift baskets when something significant happens in their life, it always makes the difference to great performers.
 
4. Always Follow Through
Simple rule – Do what you say you’re going to do!!   Living up to your own commitments with your team is a very simple yet profound non verbal 'statement' that you can be trusted.  Live by your word; demonstrate they can trust you to fulfill any promises or agreements you sign up for.  It’s the little things that really add up and count!!  Nothing squashes loyalty faster than a boss that never follows through.  
 
5. Encourage Innovation
Create a work environment that allows people to fail – give them ownership to try new things with a safety net.  Problem solving together as a team and innovating collectively feeds the spirit with hope for a new and fulfilling future.  Billionaire Richard Branson and his company the Virgin Group openly ‘encourage giving people the freedom to fail and try again’.  They say ‘successful companies encourage risk-taking and reward ingenuity.’ No wonder so many people yearn to work with them!
 
If you want to prevent a 'working dead' environment from manifesting, dots Leadership Solutions can help!!  We can provide you with one on one coaching to create a positive work experience for both you and your team.
 
We can also act as an objective partner to meet your team, delve in and uncover hidden issues that may inhibit motivation, causing the potential zombie uprising.  We provide proven strategies to build back engagement, give us a call at Dots Leadership Solutions!