Plus sign - white on blackAsh Wednesday begins a six-week religious observance culminating on Easter Sunday. During this period called Lent, people reflect on their lives and typically practice some form of self-denial. They give up something they value. For 2016, “the most common fasts include food, sweets, drinks, and social media.”1

In thinking about this from a business context, I wondered how we could incorporate the premise of Lent into the workplace. Instead of giving up something, why not make a commitment to NOT give up on things. Quitting is easy. Managers quit or give up on their employees and employees do the same with their leaders. The problem is that quitting won’t help you reach your goals.  It’s follow-through that matters.

Too often, we quit paying attention. We let our goals and our companies’ goals fall by the wayside because we are too busy focusing on the urgent rather than the important. Let’s commit to being present for the next six weeks. Choose the one thing on which you want to focus and don’t give up on it because it is too difficult, too time consuming, too expensive, or too whatever.

 

Here are some suggestions.  You can follow-through on:

  • Presenting your ideas to your Manager
  • Tough conversations you need to have
  • Better engaging your employees and coworkers
  • Being productive
  • Better communication
  • Delegation
  • Recognizing contributions
  • Providing growth and development opportunities for your direct reports
  • Coaching people in terms of their performance
  • Walking the walk and talking the talk (consistency)

 

 

Over the next weeks, think of what you can accomplish. Consider the positive ( + ) impact you can have directly on your employees and/or coworkers, i.e., employee engagement, and indirectly on your company and its customers. It’s time to commit to NOT give up!

 

What are your thoughts on the concept of Lent in the workplace? What follow-through suggestions do you have?

 

 

1 Aaron Morrison. “Popular Ideas For Lent 2016: The Most Common Fasts Include Food, Sweets, Drinks And Social Media.” International Business Times. 09 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2016. <http://www.ibtimes.com/popular-ideas-lent-2016-most-common-fasts-include-food-sweets-drinks-social-media-2300091>.

 

 

Let’s Engage!

I’m Agent in Engagement Simpson…Gregory F Simpson.

Employee engagement is a critical mission. I hope I can count on your help! Subscribe to the RSS Feed to receive the latest intelligence/insights and/or register to make entries in the comments log.

Photo of Gregory F SimpsonYou can follow me @agtinengagement.
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P.S.  First contact? Welcome to the Agent In Engagement community. Explore and join fellow employee engagement operatives in targeting a known thief – alias: Disengagement. Together we can bring this thief to justice and make the world a better place for all companies and their employees.

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