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What Every Manager Should Know About How to Encourage Employees To Take Productive Initiatives
by Etienne A Gibbs, MSW
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Employee initiative can make a marked improvement in performance and productivity, especially when knowledgeable employees demonstrate it in partnership with their supervisors. Until recently, it has been difficult to achieve this. While most supervisors welcome constructive ideas and suggestions, some resent it, even fear it, because they do not know how to handle it.
Dr. Melvin Sorcher has a solution to this impasse. Drawing on his work in behavior modeling, he has designed a training program to mold supervisors and subordinates into a productive working team where ideas and suggestions flow freely. His program revolves around five situations that research has deemed to be most important ones in which employees need to develop their skills.
Dr. Sorcher, the creator of a training program he calls Taking the Initiative, focuses on five skills-building situations that encourages employees to demonstrate their initiative. According to his research, the five areas in which employees have difficulty showing initiative are:
* asking for clarification, or help;
* presenting a new or better idea;
* anticipating or solving problems;
* participating in performance appraisal discussions; and
* expressing concern to supervisors or co-workers about a situation.
Consequently, employees are minimally involved in their work because they lack the self-confidence and desire to go a step further. As it is, employees are minimally responsive to performance issues and organizational objectives. Their supervisors make all decisions for and about them. As a result, employees do not learn how to initiate action productively and produce lasting results. Nor do they use their job knowledge to develop the essential skills of collaboration, communication, contributions, and innovation.
It seems to me that if each employee were to be encouraged and supported to take the initiative, then there would be more effective and productive organizations.
Remember: When you maximize your potential and help others to maximize theirs, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
© Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts lectures, seminars, webinars, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." For more information visit www.MaximizingYourPotential.blogspot.com, or email him at execandgroup-consulting@yahoo.com.
Article Source: www.businesshighlight.org
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