One of the hard lessons is that you can't tell people what something
means. They have to experience it for themselves.

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Your job as a leader is to create those experiences.

 

There are tools, like the Brain Train, that make it easier;

or the Empowerment Grid, that makes it clearer. And at the end

of this unit, we give you a tool to mix and match solutions.

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There also are incremental things you can do that help people

discover the meaning in their work:

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1. Help your team understand their purpose, and show
them how their work matters to the success of the entire company.

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Don't assume they know. Carve out time for employees to explore the purpose 
of what they do. Introduce your team to their customers. Gather stories of how their work helps others, even in small ways, and encourage them to share their
own stories. 

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                                    2. Commit to crafting a learning environment that                                                      energizes team members.

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                                   When things go wrong, as they will, don't focus on blame,                                               focus on what the team can learn about their processes
                                   or their customers.

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3. Be intentional about helping people feel appreciated. 

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Point out what people do right more than what they do wrong.
Use Slack or similar channels to praise people for their efforts
and the outcomes.

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4. Have the "control" conversations early and often.

 

We recommend the Empowerment Grid format as a way to discuss what decisions can be made, by whom, under what circumstances and how the employee can gain more autonomy with accountability.

 

5. Free the workplace from corrosive behaviors that serve as barriers. 

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Cut-off activities that instill fear or introduce unwarranted uncertainty to your team, whether it is inside or outside your team. A lack of decision-making or integrity can bring team action to a halt.

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6. Put people in situation where they learn from each other.

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Collaboration is a buzz-worthy concept. Done correctly, it can

have a huge impact on your company's performance and

resilience. But people aren't going to seek others out without

a nudge ... or maybe a shove.

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IN THE END, IT IS THE EMPLOYEE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP UP OR STEP OUT.