Employees are disengaged. Here's what leaders must do

Employees are disengaged. Here's what leaders must do | practice | Are you really listening to your team? Are you sure? Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( July 10, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Employees are disengaged. Here's what leaders must do]( [Employees are disengaged. Here's what leaders must do]( (SrdjanPav/Getty Images) Chances are your employees are stressed out, looking for another job or feeling disconnected from their work and the company's mission, and your managers are probably too afraid to address the issues in a way that will enhance retention, according to Gallup's State of the American Workplace. "Without strong communication, it's not surprising a path for the organization isn't clear, which then makes enthusiasm for the future unlikely," writes Jason Evanish, CEO of Get Lighthouse, Inc., who analyzes the report's takeaways. Full Story: [Lighthouse]( (7/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Employees are more engaged in their jobs when they feel included in decisions, given challenging assignments and offered opportunities to grow their careers, [Gallup data shows](. In addition, employee stress levels are highest among those in a hybrid work environment. Is your workplace culture truly INCLUSIVE? Establishing a culture of appreciation for employees' differences at every level is crucial to your bottom line. Join us at SHRM INCLUSION 2023 in Savannah Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 to maximize your learnings around unconscious bias, DE&I strategy, and employee well-being. [Register today]( by July 14th to save. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Communication [] [Are you really listening to your team? Are you sure?]( [Are you really listening to your team? Are you sure?]( (Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images) Improve your listening skills by putting away all distractions so you can be present, being curious about what's being said and asking questions to clarify anything that may be unclear, writes Lolly Daskal. "[T]he consequences of not listening are numerous, including a loss of teamwork and camaraderie, missed opportunities and ideas, overlooked logical discernment and cost-saving processes, and a breakdown of trust and respect," Daskal notes. Full Story: [Lolly Daskal]( (7/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Don't let your own biases or opinions get in the way of truly listening to someone, even if you disagree with their position or ideas, [Daskal recommends](. "Instead, approach conversations with an open mind and be willing to listen to different perspectives." [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How leaders can learn to provide better feedback]( Giving actionable feedback is a crucial -- yet sometimes unnatural part -- part of effective leadership. One way for leaders to improve is to learn from the example of top-notch teachers, who provide so-called "agentic feedback," in which they direct students to examine specific parts of their work that need improvement, according to a study from Stanford and Sonoma State University. Full Story: [Inc. (tiered subscription model)]( (7/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Feedback that spurs more creative thinking in your direct reports will be more fulfilling for them than just having you correct their errors or show them how to do a task properly, [says study co-author Camilla Mutoni Griffiths](. "Communicating that you believe in someone's ability to grow is a proven way to promote their growth, especially for marginalized groups that are usually expected to do poorly because of stereotypes," Griffiths concludes. 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Leading by example can help motivate and inspire team members, building staff engagement means caring about collaboration and inclusion, Miller writes, adding that effective leadership creates a culture of innovation and creativity, and accountability is a key motivating factor as well. Full Story: [ReadWrite]( (6/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Astronomers spot furthest supermassive black hole ever]( [Astronomers spot furthest supermassive black hole ever]( (ESO/M. Kornmesser) Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found the most distant active supermassive black hole yet. The black hole is unusually small, weighing about 9 million solar masses compared to the typical weight of at least 1 billion solar masses, and the galaxy that houses the black hole still actively produces new stars. 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[Vote]( [Australian Open]( [Vote]( [French Open]( [Vote]( [Wimbledon]( [Vote]( [US Open]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew The message of today's brief seems to be one of [developing active listening and communication skills]( to [increase employee engagement and satisfaction](. I know from my own career experience that the jobs I have loved had, at their core, leadership that listened to employees and cared about their professional development. The jobs where I felt like nothing more than a cog in the machine were the ones I left quickly. How are you listening and communicating to your team? Do they feel heard? Are you giving them [constructive feedback]( that builds their skills and confidence? If not, you may see them head for greener -- more collaborative -- pastures. If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] Rain falls and the flowers bloom. No rain, they wither up. [Haruki Murakami](, writer [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036