Does your company have a culture where every voice is welcomed, heard, and respected?
A recent study reported that more than one in three employees say their employers aren’t listening to them. When employees feel heard, it can boost engagement, build trust, and increase workplace morale. Employees need to feel free to express themselves based on their unique perspectives, regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical conditions, cultural background, or country of origin.
In an online article titled Why You Should Listen to Your Employees – Lessons from Virgin, Microsoft, and Zendesk, the author states that successful companies have three practices in common that focus on listening. These workplaces:
- Host regular Q&A sessions with leadership
- Create a safe space to collect questions
- Actively invite employee feedback and act upon it
In the TEDX talk The Power of Listening, William Ury discusses the why and how of listening, as well as the need for understanding the speaker’s underlying emotions and feelings.
Ideas for action
- Ask! Make the environment safe and conducive for listening, then ask questions and gather feedback. Be prepared to hear the good and the bad. Make employee interest surveys an integral part of your wellness program.
- Invite employees to be part of the solution to issues. Communicate what is being done — transparency is key.
- Foster listening and connecting in a variety of ways. Provide opportunities to spend more time face-to-face. Examples include:
- Working on a volunteer project together
- Holding friendly wellness contests
- Developing a mentoring program
- Giving your employees space to discuss health issues and share stories
- Share this month’s E-tips “Can you hear me now?” with your employees (see below).
“Sometimes we just need to be heard …
There are times in life when being heard leads to being healed.” ~ Steve Maraboli
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