Employee engagement is an issue that is at the forefront of every company no matter the industry. Recently I read an article which focused on the issue of employee engagement; employees that always show up on time, happy and ready to work is quickly becoming the wave of the future, the article stated. Then the article stated that we can’t really say that because employee attitude must be measured by a multitude of methods from internal surveys, to focus groups, to detailed gap analyses, but we can’t use those methods either to gauge employee attitude and engagement because employee attitude has everything to do with training and overall unhappiness….

Now I want make it clear that I fully believe that employees must be engaged employees and must care about their jobs enough to, at the very least, do a good job. Honestly nothing is worse than having to deal with someone that could care less about those that they work with and is just showing up to collect a paycheck at the end of the week. However I also believe that employee engagement goes much further than corporate level measurement tools and the general unhappiness of some.

I’ve been a long standing fan of the “golden rule”; if you think way back to kindergarten you might remember. Treating others as you would like to be treated. I know that it doesn’t sound as flashy as “Engaged Employees” or “Transformational Leaders”, but if you really think about it the root of all these 10 dollar words are based out of the golden rule. The fact is that one must be genuine in their desire to work with one another, and provide for the best possible work environment that is based on an inward desire to serve others.

I believe that the golden rule is something that transcends pay scales or an employee’s personal gain in quote un-quote “being nice to others”, it hits at heart issues that face so many professionals today.

Things as simple as saying “please” and “thank you” can be the very gateways to some of the most productive days employees have ever experienced.

Some would say that my mode of thinking is long lost and out dated and that’s ok. However as someone that will inevitably have to deal with people in my day-to-day activities, I must continually check my intentions and check my attitude towards those that I work with, serve and come in contact with. I must continually remember that being an employee of the future is implementing the lessons learned in the past.

Cheers!
STEVE FERICEAN