Employee engagement is not a “soft” topic.
It’s hard work.
Being nice is not enough.
There are plenty of friendly, agreeable leaders with deeply unhappy teams, who have failed to deliver results.
One reason for those “nice failures” is that friendliness and fairness alone don’t create engagement.
Engagement doesn’t just come from giving what people want, it comes from giving what they need.
They need to feel safe.
Safety is more important than friendliness.
I don’t mean physical safety, but a deeper, psychological safety.
Niceness and openness go part of the way to feeling safe.
I can express what I feel, my opinions are valued, I’m respected.
But leaders need to do more than just show respect.
They need to deliver certainty, confidence, even results.
Leaders need to earn trust first.
Again, not just fidelity or truthfulness, but capability and predictability.
I will follow a leader who makes me feel safe before I follow one who is friendly.
Will you lead us to success? Do I respect your capabilities? Are you working for me?
Being friendly and open is critical, but means nothing without capability and predictability.
Capability is earned through hard work over time. Predictability needs consistency of thought and clear vision.
Not being easy or soft.
“Safety is more important than friendliness…”
Are you friendly and open with your team?
Do you believe you should keep people happy to deliver results?
How often do you disagree with ideas or actions of your team?
Do you work hard to be consistent and to deliver results?
Do you deliver results?
Would you be more consistent if you were less agreeable?
Are you agreeable or capable, or both?
Are you safe?
.
.
“I might be wrong, but at least I’ve thought about it…”