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| Language is a powerful indicator of employee engagement |
Engagement differs from satisfaction; an engaged employee is
more than simply satisfied. He or she feels a special connection to the
organization. An engaged employee exhibits a high degree of "discretionary
effort," meaning that he or she is willing to give more than is required.
There are many tools to measure employee engagement.
Multiple-question surveys assess various dimensions of the employment
experience. But I assert that one simple, subtle test will quickly
separate the engaged from the disengaged. The test can be performed by
anywhere, anytime and results are delivered instantaneously.
Administering the test is subtle, quiet and simple. It requires nothing
more than your ears. Intrigued?
Here's The One Question Employee Engagement Test:
What words do you hear an individual use to describe his or
her organization?
Listen closely to dialogue. Stay carefully attuned to the way
in which an individual describes his or her employer. Do you hear "we,
us, our team, my company" or "they, them, the company?" These
are subtleties indeed, but language is powerful. Employees who truly feel a
part of an organization and are highly engaged demonstrate it through the words
they choose. What about those who usually refer to the company or their team
by its formal name, such as "Acme Company" or
"Operations?" I argue that these individuals may be partially engaged
or at best, neutral in terms of commitment to their organizations.
The One Question Employee Engagement Test isn't a substitute
for an annual engagement survey. It's important to look at various aspects of
the employment experience to gain a deep and valid understanding of engagement
at the organizational and work group level. That is best accomplished through a
series of questions and a carefully structured analysis of employee
responses. The One Question Employee Engagement Test can, however, serve
as an early warning sign of eroding engagement at the individual level.
Try deploying the one-question engagement test on your team,
your friends, or your family members. Use it repeatedly over time to
determine if it has merit. I'm guessing you'll discover that it does.
Formal employee engagement assessments have great value to
measure engagement on a broad scale. However, every leader has an opportunity
to quickly assess a team member's engagement by listening closely to the
employee's language. Open your ears and apply the One Question
Employee Engagement Test. You may be surprised by what you hear.
