With quiet quitting continuing to be a trend—where employees do the bare minimum to get by while planning their next move—it’s important for managers to get an understanding of what is fueling disengagement.
During the Education Session “Reigniting Passion in Disengaged Employees,” Bob Huebner, president of 200Mark Consulting, and Amber Millwood, training and development manager at The Spinx Company, discussed how one size fits one when it comes to employees. Getting to know your employees on a personal level and treating them in a personalized way allows you to connect with them.
“Everyone has different needs and passions, so you need to learn about the individuals,” said Huebner. “You can’t build those relationships unless you ask and get to know them. … Treat them how it will best connect with them.”
“We lose our listening. We need to learn to be in the moment with people and listen and connect with them,” Huebner said.
Demonstrating appreciation for your employees in a way that makes sense to them is also important. Huebner said to remember that not everyone likes to be recognized in the same way. When giving praise, be specific about what exactly employees are doing well, and make sure that the action you praise is specific. Then the praise gets remembered, and that behavior is repeated.
In 2017, Spinx surveyed its employees, asking, “What are we doing that you don’t like?”
As a result of listening to their employees, the company created five committees to further address these issues: compensation, recognition, communication, career growth, and benefits. The committees meet regularly to discuss concerns and opportunities and are comprised of both field and support center teammates, with a member of the executive leadership team heading the committee.
Spinx works to create a culture of appreciation and belonging. “Every quarter our CEO sends out a newsletter about where the company stands, sharing who is doing good and also who is leaving. It’s important to be transparent,” Millwood said.
Millwood said that Spinx gives its stores a budget to have celebrations for employees. The money is spent on things such as anniversary lunches for the frontline workers.
Huebner also elaborated that it is important to provide a safety net for challenges, which allows employees to make recoverable mistakes.