Why Are Many Americans Checked Out At Work?
There’s a crisis in the American workforce: 66% of workers are checked out at their jobs [4]. At best, these employees clock in and out, putting time but zero passion into their work. At worst, they resent feeling their needs aren’t being met, and are missing deadlines or work days altogether. The result? An estimated $480-$600 billion a year in lost productivity [4].
How can companies create a more engaged workforce? The answer goes beyond salary increases, job flexibility, and higher 401(k) matches (though, to be sure, those help). Research in organizational behavior suggests that having “transformational leaders” — or in other words, very effective managers — can induce employees to be more engaged, motivated, and productive. By cultivating effective leadership, companies become more successful.
Although “transformational leadership” may sound like academic jargon, it encapsulates the qualities and behaviors of the ideal people manager. This type of leadership has four key components:
- Instilling pride in employees, while gaining trust and respect and communicating the organization’s value and mission.
- Helping employees set goals, communicating optimism about future goals, and providing meaning to everyday tasks.
- Challenging ideas, taking risks, soliciting new ideas, and thinking outside the box.
- Giving employees personal attention, empathy, and support, while celebrating each person’s contribution [2].
References
[1]: Beck, R. J., & Harter, J. (2018, October 22). Why Great Managers Are So Rare. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/231593/why-great-managers-rare.aspx
[2]: Bronkhorst, B., Steijn, B., & Vermeeren, B. (2013). Transformational Leadership, Goal Setting, and Work Motivation. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 35(2), 124–145. doi: 10.1177/0734371×13515486
[3]: Diebig, M., Poethke, U., & Rowold, J. (2017). Leader strain and follower burnout: Exploring the role of transformational leadership behaviour. German Journal of Human Resource Management: Zeitschrift Für Personalforschung, 31(4), 329–348. doi: 10.1177/2397002217721077
[4]: Gallup, Inc. (2019, May 16). State of the American Workplace. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/reports/199961/7.aspx
[5]: Walsh, M., Dupre, K., & Arnold, K. A. (2014). Processes through Which Transformational Leaders Affect Employee Psychological Health. German Journal of Human Resource Management: Zeitschrift für Personalforschung, 28(1-2), 162–172. doi: 10.1177/239700221402800109
About the Author
Stacy Post
Stacy uses applied behavioral science, social marketing, and behavior change models to communicate social issues ranging from environmental to public health to youth development. With a knack for translating complex, scientific findings into audience-friendly messaging to enact behavior change, she strives to use behavioral science to create a more productive and healthy society. Stacy completed an MA in Communication (social and behavior change communication) from Johns Hopkins University.
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