PRODUCTIVITY

Employee Engagement; keys to removing extraneous information and getting focused support of your key initiative

Dec 03, 2023

Engaging employees and gaining their buy-in for a new initiative is crucial for its success. Here's a framework that you can follow to encourage employee buy-in:


Phase 1: Pre-Launch Preparation

  1. Clearly Define the Initiative:
  • Clarity: Define the initiative with clear goals, objectives, and expected outcomes.
  • Relevance: Communicate how the initiative aligns with the organization's mission and values.
  1. Communication Strategy:
  • Open Communication Channels: Establish open lines of communication through meetings, emails, and other channels.
  • Two-Way Communication: Encourage feedback and address questions to build anticipation and understanding.
  1. Highlight Benefits:
  • Employee Value Proposition: Articulate how the initiative benefits employees personally and professionally.
  • Team Benefits: Emphasize positive impacts on teams and the organization as a whole.

Phase 2: Launch and Implementation

  1. Involvement and Collaboration:
  • Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve employees in decision-making to foster ownership and commitment.
  • Cross-functional Teams: Create teams representing different departments for collaboration.
  1. Training and Support:
  • Skill Development: Provide training and resources to equip employees for the initiative.
  • Ongoing Support: Offer mentorship to help navigate challenges during implementation.
  1. Recognition and Rewards:
  • Acknowledgment: Recognize individual and team achievements related to the initiative.
  • Incentives: Consider providing rewards for active contributions to success.
  1. Create a Sense of Urgency:
  • Highlight the Need: Communicate the time-sensitive nature and consequences of delaying the initiative.
  • Demonstrate Impact: Illustrate how the initiative addresses current challenges or opportunities.

Phase 3: Post-Launch Sustainment

  1. Leadership Endorsement:
  • Visible Support: Ensure leaders actively endorse and support the initiative.
  • Lead by Example: Leaders should demonstrate commitment by participating actively.
  1. Feedback Loop:
  • Continuous Improvement: Establish a feedback loop to gather input and assess progress.
  • Transparent Reporting: Keep employees informed through regular updates and reports.
  1. Sustain Momentum:
  • Continuous Communication: Maintain ongoing communication to sustain employee interest.
  • Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate key milestones reached during the initiative.

By dividing the framework into these three phases, you can focus on specific aspects of the initiative at each stage, ensuring a structured and comprehensive approach to gaining employee buy-in.


I have worked with employers for nearly 30 years, from small businesses to Fortune 500 and governments. If there is one thing they all have in common, its a lack of focus. Success always happens when you remove the extraneous information and focus on the desired outcome.