Recently, I spoke with an employee from a large organization who felt insignificant in his role. He mentioned that others in his department and throughout the organization also felt insignificant. They felt that what they do each day does not matter and their ideas do not matter.

So, what can you do as an employee and leader if the morale has taken a nose dive and you want to quit or your people are looking elsewhere for work? Great question for this week's newsletter.

Significantly,

Diane

P.S. If you feel insignificant at work, what are those things your boss does that makes you feel this way? Also, if you feel valued at work and your ideas have influence, what are you doing to gain this influence? Please send me an email with what is working or not working for you or your team to diane@dianeamundson.com 

         "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."

Mahatma Gandhi

Marvin has worked ten years in accounts payable at a nursing home. Initially, he enjoyed his work as he had a great relationship with his boss and felt like he was making a difference for his organization. Recently, he got a new boss who promised to just observe the department's work before making any changes to its processes. Marvin appreciated this "wait-and-see" approach as everything ran smoothly under his previous boss.

Unfortunately, his new boss sat in on a few staff meetings and proceeded to tell Marvin and his co-workers what was wrong with their processes. In addition, his boss took away their ability to make up time at doctor and dentist appointments by coming in early or staying later. This is the one piece of Marvin's job that he really appreciated...flexibility. With both the critical comments and removal of his flexibility, Marvin began to feel insignificant. He wondered if anyone would even notice if he wasn't there.

What can you do as an employee if you are feeling like Marvin?

• Set up a meeting with your boss to gain insights around the importance of your work. Ask to see how your work is affecting others in the organization or the customer

• Ask to meet weekly or monthly to gain insights on your development and how you can grow in your job. Find out if there is a better way to communicate your ideas so they are heard

• Ask if you can help form a committee with HR to give feedback on workplace benefits like paid-time-off, comp time and flexibility

• Find a way to measure the relevance of your job. In the case above it may be reducing late fees on accounts payable. Whatever the measurement of success, make sure you have access to the numbers yourself and can track them without your boss's help

What can you do if you are the boss and you are sensing a dip in morale for your department or organization?

• Create a plan on your calendar to speak face to face, by phone or teleconference once every seven days with each direct report showing your appreciation for their work

• Make every attempt to show your direct reports how their work saves you time or helps others in the department, organization or end user, i.e., customer

• Create a measurement for your direct report that will clearly show how they are doing on a regular basis. Make sure they have access to numbers that will gauge their progress towards the agreed upon measurement without your help.

• Create committees or teams where your direct reports can give feedback on how the organization/department is doing with benefits/workplace flexibility, etc. An employee survey should be conducted minimally once a year to gain this feedback as well. Also seek out feedback from the informal leaders of your area, the ones that don't have a title necessarily, but have the respect of co-workers.

Question for You:

Are you feeling like you do not make a difference in your place of work? Do you feel that leadership is not listening to you or your ideas and activities are not being accepted or forgotten? If you are a leader, do you feel disconnected with the people that report to you? Do you sense a slip in the engagement of your staff?

Action for You:

While feeling insignificant at work may seem hopeless, there are specific steps you can take to get noticed. By meeting with your boss to better understand the relevance of your work and how you can come communicate your ideas more effectively, you will begin to see more influence at work. If you are a boss who is experiencing a disengaged staff, I recommend seeking out the informal leaders of your organization to gain insights on the morale of your department along with gathering survey input to help you see the real issues. Find a way to listen to your employees and use their ideas more than you discard them.