Productive Employment
It’s all about the people.
In uncertain economic times, it’s more important than ever for employees to be motivated, engaged and innovative.
Gallup Q12 tells us there are three types of employees.
- Engaged employees account for 29 percent of an average workforce
- Not-engaged make up 59 percent
- Actively disengaged – 15 percent
Your engaged employees are your greatest asset. They are the loyal people who bring value, drive innovation and wow customers. When they do—they need to be recognized.
Leaders who want to drive growth through innovation should first create an environment that welcomes new ideas—and should make engaging employees a key component of their strategy. Gallup Q12
During times of economic uncertainty, everyone worries about the security of their jobs, their incomes, and welfare of their families. Distraction, demotivation and disengagement are common. Consequently, productivity suffers, profitability falls, customers get neglected, and employees start looking for other opportunities.
So, how does an organization nurture engaged employees?
And what is the role of recognition in the process?
Industrial psychologist Abraham Maslow researched human motivation extensively and determined that needs drive motivation.
Maslow’s hierarchy of basic human needs concluded that we have five levels of needs that motivate us. From our most basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, safety, and security, to our more sophisticated needs of ego satisfaction and self-actualization, we are driven to fulfill these needs.
The need for recognition, as one of our more sophisticated needs, is one of the most difficult to achieve. It is the only one of which we are wholly dependent upon others to respond appropriately.
