The importance of positive engagement in organisations

The term organisation applies to any group of people working together towards a shared purpose. This includes businesses, families, charities, schools, churches, voluntary organisations and community groups.

When people in an organisation disengage from each other, the result is fragmented and reaps disorganised chaos! This has a damaging effect on the organisational environment and individual circumstances. This can result in the undermining of the value of our very purpose in life. 

The impact of disengagement

The effect on the organisation when disengagement happens as a result of management style is that people may self-protect; this rolls down the organisational structure to affect customers and other stakeholders.

The communication and understanding of ‘normal functioning’ get lost in the need to survive and self-protect. Adverse groups may form, with different values from the rest. Knowledge becomes the power trading tool for survival and control.

When communication breaks down

Behaviours such as public criticism, humiliation or reprimands, whether delivered face-to-face or electronically, can isolate and silence people.

An individual's first response is often:

"Perhaps I'm not coping here when I should be."

As communication becomes increasingly chaotic, the organisation's aims and expectations lose clarity. Without open, constructive feedback, people struggle to grow, contribute creatively or feel part of a shared purpose.

Healthy organisations create environments where communication encourages learning, confidence and continuous improvement rather than fear.

The courage to lead differently

The courage of leadership to challenge the key factors begins with self-recognition and a positive behavioural response:

• Moving away from blame to recognition that you may not know everything about the circumstances.
• Listening with an open heart and mind ('taking a walk in the other person’s shoes').
• Giving an opportunity to indicate that you value the other person’s opinion and views.
• Recognition of contribution and effort that does not always meet the mark exactly, but takes the encouraging steps of noticing and appreciating that it took courage.
• Learning from our mistakes is a two-way process.
• Leader’s reflection on how they can more appropriately support and value people that results in shared learning.

Positive engagement benefits everyone

When people feel valued, heard and respected, organisations become stronger.

The rewards of positive engagement bring greater success than we can imagine, adding commercial value and profit as well as individual workplace participation.