brain-training-exercises airyourself.com - 2015-12We all know that exercise is good for our health and well-being, yet most of us think exercise is only about physical activity. Today, I’m proposing a new workout…a work “clout” actually…that will exercise your employee engagement muscle.

More of us need to begin to focus on developing new ways of thinking about our current routines and how well or poorly they serve us. The purpose of this work “clout” routine is to help you develop as an individual and employee so that you can build your influence or clout within your personal and professional circles.

 

 

The Work “Clout” Routine

What is a work “clout” routine look like?  It is about flexing some new muscles – ones that most of us have never developed. The routine centers on you and the impact your current routines have on others. These exercises will benefit you, your direct reports, coworkers, and your managers by building your clout within the organization.  As you begin to incorporate this routine into your daily activities, you should begin to see improvements in the engagement of those around you.

To grow any muscle, you have to stress it.  A work “clout” is a routine that helps you focus on building the skills needed to be an effective employee regardless of the title you hold or the work you do. Like any form of exercise, consistency and progress-tracking are key components.

 

 

The Agreement

The first step in the routine is committing to a plan and then actually showing up regularly to work on it. If you realize there are some improvements you need to make and you are committed to working hard to achieve them, you’ll need to incorporate this routine into all your other routines.

 

 

Health Check

Before you begin any routine, you should have a check-up. You’ll notice that each of the six areas below are under your direct control and can affect your work “clout” in a positive or negative manner. Here are the six areas that form the foundation you’ll need to be successful.

 

 

The Exercises

#1: The Direct Connection
Use your interpersonal skills to improve your relationships with your direct reports, coworkers, and managers. Get to know people on a personal level in addition to a professional level.  What constitutes intensity of The Direct Connect exercise?  Here is what an average, above average, and superior effort looks like?

 

#2: On the Ball
Become more observant. Observe the way people around you interact with you and others.  Listen to how people talk to you and others. This is a hard exercise that requires you to become more present in all in of your daily interactions. It is the foundation to exercises #3 and #4 below.

 

#3: The Pump Up
Start to recognize people for the work they are doing. The On the Ball exercise should help you better identify who and what you should be recognizing. What does an average, above average, and superior effort look like?

 

#4:  The Personal Trainer
This exercise is about people development. Identify opportunities to help people at all levels grow and develop their connections, skills, and experiences. What does an average, above average, and superior effort look like?

 

 

Tracking Progress

You can use The Wheel of Employee Engagement to plot your current state and monitor your progress on the exercises above.

 

 

Work “Clout” Buddies

Just as with physical exercise, a work “clout” buddy is a smart idea.  Buddies help keep you motivated, encourage you to work harder, and inject some fun into the work “clout” routine.   Think of them as your spotter. They are there to help you succeed, give you feedback, hold you accountable.

 

 

If you follow the Work “Clout” routine, you’ll be impacting the experience of those around you.  It’s the experiences we have while at work that determines the level of employee engagement.

 

Experience drives engagement.

Engagement drives company AND employee success.

 

 

 

What are your thoughts on the work “clout” routine?  What exercises would you add?

 

Photo credit: http://www.airyourself.com/2015/12/brain-training-exercises.html

 

 

 

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.

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