(2 minute read)
While the nay-sayers may discourage employees from supporting and embracing the goals and ambitions of the company they work for, there’s more to employee buy-in than the cynical jibes from those less invested, accusing committed staff of ‘Drinking from the Kool Aid’.
There has been a recent drop in the percentage of team members and employees who are actively and willingly buying in to the departmental or organisational goals where they work.
However, there remains a very healthy cohort at most companies who can see the value in the goals and ambitions of the business managers, as they strive to win support for the improvement and growth of the business in both performance and profitability.
So how can leaders and managers attract more buy in to the company goals?
- Begin with the bigger picture and the vision of/for the company. This requires the effective communication of the company’s mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
- Involve staff in decision-making and goal setting. This helps provide a sense of camaraderie, ownership, and connection to the business’ objectives.
- Challenge leaders to lead by example. The adage, “You can’t be what you can’t see,” reminds us of the importance of modelling the behaviours we’d like to see develop in others.
- Encourage open communication and greater transparency. Once team members know whydecisions are made and how goals are set, there’s a greater understanding of the driving reasons behind them.
- Foster a culture of support. Build psychological safety amongst team members, allowing and encouraging their input and empowering them to bring their best self to the workplace or to the team.
Creating and cultivating employee buy-in is not the result of a single managerial initiative, but an ongoing commitment from all involved.
Leaders and managers need to create an environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute their best while at work.
When team members and employees feel that they have a stake in the success of the organisation and genuinely believe that their efforts make a difference, they can truly become passionate advocates for the company’s vision and goals.