Have you ever wondered how conversations can spiral out of control?   How easily conflict can arise? How innocent emails can cause misunderstandings? 

Is it possible the change needs to occur at the “Receiver” rather than the “Sender“?

As human beings we have brains that are storing our unique experiences and understandings of the world around us. 

As close as sharing an experience might be, our experiences are entirely unique and can form how we send and receive information from that point on.

Consider a worker who was bullied as a child.  Without a shift in perspective, every time a Supervisor uses a quick tone, or seems “short” to that worker, it is filtered through the perception that the worker isn’t liked by the Supervisor, or the Supervisor is picking on the worker etc.   This is over simplified of course, but it highlights how important it is for us to shift our thinking, in order to see things through a positive lens, and afford us the opportunity to respond in kind, and avoid misunderstandings.

The Achieve Centre for Leadership & Workplace Performance has developed a very easy to follow process about Dealing with Conflict. 

The premise is to SHIFT JUDGMENT TO CURIOSITY.

First you notice what happened: THEN    Become curious about their intention AND FINALLY Assume the best about the other person.

WATCH THE MAGIC HAPPEN. 

Here’s to a future filled with Calmness and Kindness.

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who created the Hierarchy of Needs, a theory which argued that psychological health was dependent on the fulfilling of needs in order of priority. This theory put forward the idea that humans must have their basic needs met in order to pursue their own personal growth and development. The needs in Maslow’s theory are, in order:

1. Survival – These are biological needs such as food, water, shelter, sleep.
2. Safety – This need requires stability, security, order, law, and protection from elements.
3. Belonging – This is a need for friendship, love, affection, and intimacy
4. Importance – The need to achieve and master things, independence, and self-respect
5. Self-Actualization – This is the need that requires people to fulfill their potential and what they believe they’re capable of.

These needs are the basis for human survival and growth. But look closer at them. They play a large part in employee engagement levels and how your employees are engaged and motivated within your company. Let’s break it down and see how this works:

• Survival– We know this is a basic need. This includes the need to have a job, a salary that pays the bills, and a sense of financial independence.
• Safety– When we have jobs, we need to know that they are  With the way the job market is nowadays, it’s hard for many to move past this second most basic need. It also causes individuals to need structure in the workplace, with a chain of command and a process for their duties so they feel confident that they’re doing their job correctly.
• Belonging– People need to feel like they’re part of a team, that they are a part of something bigger. As employees, humans need to know their individual contributions are valued by the company. If your organizational is setup around team principles, then this sense of belonging and “camaraderie” should come almost naturally.
• Importance– This need dovetails into the “belonging” need in the sense that individuals need to feel like they’re important to a team, projects, and the overall organization. This need is most prevalent inside of larger companies where the need to engage employees on a personal level becomes harder and harder for higher level management.

Self-Actualization– Most employees have some level of ambition and want to achieve more than where they’re currently positioned. Giving them opportunities for growth, learning, leadership and advancement gives them all of the tools they need to begin to self-actualize within your company’s walls. When they reach this point, and are taking full advantage of the tools made available to them, they inspire others along the way and create a ripple effect of employee engagement.

These needs are critical for the fulfillment of a satisfying professional life and career, so how can you provide this type of environment for your employees?

1. Pay your employees a livable wage.

2. Don’t make them feel as if their job is on the line all the time.

3. Have a strong organizational structure that promotes teamwork and inclusion.

4. Make them feel important. This is where things like employee recognition come into play so strongly. When your employees perform well, let them know it. Recognize them publicly for their accomplishments and reward them for what they’ve done. The public recognition lets the employee know their performance is important and that it matters. Incentive programs also work well here because they give employees tangible rewards for their performance. When someone receives a reward, they emotionally connect that reward to their jobs and feel important and accomplished because of it.

5. Self-actualization is realized because when employees feel important and recognized, they feel like they can take on more ownership of their role, and more of a leadership role within their company. This kind of employee is incredibly beneficial to the health of employee engagement because their enthusiasm and attitude actually inspire others to want to perform on their level.

Organizations that strive for self-actualization enjoy…

• 200% more net annual income
• 51% lower turnover
• 43% more productivity
• 59% more creative ideas
• 57% less sick leave
• 12% higher customer satisfaction ratings
• 35% less down time

If you’d like to know more about hierarchy of needs and how it can help increase employee engagement in your workplace, call Proactive Insights today at 1-212-252-2257 or email us at contact@proactiveinsights.com

January seems to be the perfect time to try on some truth.  Buckle up and lean in because this work is not for the faint of heart.  In a world that is now socially “perfect” and celebrates a life like Marie Kondo’s organized perfection, it’s easier to avoid, overwork, indulge, spend, game, binge, neglect, OCD clean, micromanage everything else but you.  This side stepping can be easier than the necessary self-work of humaning.   Loving and embracing the average, dark and real is WORK. The un-insta worthy veil needs to be lifted now and again for a little peek.  Create brave and safe space for you to explore your perfect imperfection.  Promise… this time to invest in yourself, question, embrace those nagging truth-aches will be invaluable.  Sit with and allow discomfort, shame, vulnerability and evoke all the feels. Don’t leave this planet only using a few of the emotions… explore them all!!   Only the Brave attempt to do the necessary work of a human being.  TAKE A BREAK FROM  human doing.   We think Brene says its best…

Once you’ve danced to your song a time or two, you give permission to the world to do the same.  If you are curious and hungry for more… Brene has a host of gorgeous resources, and her podcasts are just brilliant.  She is a Brave Leader that promotes truth, rumbles with shame and harnesses a bright light for humans to invite courage thru the walls of vulnerability.  Take Good Self-Care Friends~