Tips for managers?
Ask more often: ‘How are you?’
The surprising power of simply asking employees how they’re doing… It doesn’t have to be complicated. With small actions, you can achieve a lot. Make sure you don’t walk around lost in thought or sitting on your phone, but greet others.
We want to belong somewhere
Humans are social creatures. We need social contacts to feel good. No matter how much we enjoy spending some time alone from time to time, in the end we always seek each other out again.
In Abraham Maslow’s famous pyramid, ‘the need to belong’ is even placed directly above the most basic needs such as food, shelter, and safety. That means it’s something we, as humans, need even before things like recognition and self-development. These are higher up in the pyramid (only once the needs at the bottom of the pyramid are met, can you take a step ‘up’).
Research shows…
Apparently, we don’t primarily find a sense of community and engagement at work. Of one thousand respondents, 62 percent found it first and foremost at home. Still, a third—34 percent—valued their workplace when it comes to social connections and togetherness. That shouldn’t be surprising, considering how much time we spend there together and often share both joys and sorrows. Whether it’s successful or failed projects, or personal matters.
Everyone would benefit from increasing the sense of community in the workplace, according to the researchers. They emphasize that people are more motivated to do their best when they feel more engaged. In fact, they build on insights such as those from Maslow’s theory of motivation.
Greater engagement
But how can you yourself contribute to better contact with employees? How can you help them feel more at home within the company? Very simply, actually. The research showed that 39 percent of participants feel more engaged if others simply say hello to them.
By greeting employees, you make them feel seen, appreciated, and connected. In this way, as a manager, you can greatly increase their engagement, according to the research.
Simple and effective!
Just because something is simple, doesn’t mean it can’t be incredibly effective. Behavioral psychologists have long known that, for example, smiling is contagious. A manager who cheerfully greets the team in the morning helps team members feel better as well. And psychologists know that smiling positively affects our mood—even if the smile isn’t genuine. So it’s worth it to say hello a bit more often, for their sake—and for your own.
Train your social skills!
Develop your leadership capabilities!
