Influential leaders are leaders (with or without a formal title or role) who possess the mind and behaviour habits that create positive and energized emotions within themselves and around them. They are emotionally aware leaders, and they actively seek information to understand and respond to the various needs of their employees.
Often, these needs are not communicated clearly and are expressed as laments – for example, “I feel so out of the loop” (the need to be included) or “No one listens to my ideas” (the need to feel respected and valued). An emotionally aware leader hears what is being said between the lines, so to speak. They know that all employees (including themselves) have the same basic needs, but the degree of importance given to each need varies from person to person and from situation to situation. For example, one person feels stifled because they have to give weekly updates to their boss, but they feel grateful that their boss is always willing to help them. While this person feels the need to be independent most of the time, they need to feel supported all of the time.
Employees’ needs fall under what is called the Two-Factor Theory, also known as the Motivation-Hygiene Theory, a framework developed by psychologist Frederick Herzberg. According to this theory, employees have two kinds of needs: hygiene, (e.g., good salary and benefits, job security, safe workplace) and motivation (e.g., job growth, feeling of accomplishment, recognition). In his research, Herzberg found that “motivators were the primary cause of satisfaction, and hygiene factors the primary cause of unhappiness on the job.” In other words, when employees are not satisfied with their jobs, they say it is because of hygiene factors (e.g., low pay, bad boss), but when they are satisfied they say it is because of motivation factors (e.g., fulfilling work, meaning, value, and purpose).
Herzberg’s theory, which he introduced in 1959, is still relevant today. Motivation factors are based on employees’ emotional connection to their work. These factors continue to be included on many (if not all) lists of employee demands from their organizations. Gallup research on strengths-based leadership indicates that the more people feel that their emotional needs are being met, the more energized, engaged, and passionate they are about their performance, productivity, and overall commitment to the mission and vision of the organization.
Understanding the needs of your employees is a complex and often confusing undertaking, because what one employee needs is far different from what another employee needs. Learning the skill of Positive Presence on the job, in real time, is a good place to start. Understanding too, that it’s not something you can learn in isolation. Your skill of Positive Presence must be tried and tested in your workplace with your work colleagues – because, what works for one person, will not work for all. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ quick fix. Learning the skill of Positive Presence is, for most people, a slow and gentle process that requires an open mind, a common vocabulary, and a will to change, flex and adapt.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.