ICommunicate Radio Show #116: People Don't Change... Or Do They?

We tend to view the most profitable businesses as well-oiled machines, and we assume that high levels of employee engagement are automatic. What we fail to recognize, however, is the fact that organizations function more like man than machine, meaning that it experiences the cycles of life and each part of its being needs to be nurtured in order for it to develop. When it’s time to break old habits, especially in the face of adversity, we acknowledge that the vulnerability of our companies are at stake. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to discuss how to manage employee engagement as well as how to develop self-awareness to better understand when and what changes to company culture and its processes need to be changed. Segment 1: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is a mindset that we as individuals have come to almost idolize in the context of assembling company cultures and processes. Is it time to re-evaluate our decisions and evolve? How can we get around the looming fears that major -- or even minor -- change brings? Segment 2: Businesses are living, growing things that experience all stages of the cycle of life, whether we believe it or not. When the disengagement of employees signals death and decay, what can we do to revitalize company culture and processes? When is it time for change and how do we know what areas need the most attention? Segment 3: Far too often when reporting changes to our teams, we handle the dissatisfaction by saying, “the higher-ups told us that this is what we have to do.” What does this say about our credibility and respect as leaders? How can we effectively represent our teams and have the self-awareness to know when to ask for help? Segment 4: A wise man once said, “The most important things in an organization can’t be measured.” If that’s the case, then what are the most significant aspects that we should be paying attention to in our companies? How can we provide employees with purpose and improve their engagement in their work?