A couple of weeks ago, we held our annual Guarantee Restoration Services Employee Appreciation Crawfish Boil. It is my favorite event of the year. Everyone gathers at our corporate office to devour over 500lbs of delicious, boiled crawfish. Our Annual Employee Appreciation Crawfish Boil is not complete without the ever intense, sticky, marshmallow mouth-stuffing game of Chubby Bunny. And this year, we set a record. One employee was able to fit a whooping 36 regular marshmallows in his mouth before the other competitor threw in the towel. It was absolutely marvelous!
Now, it is no small undertaking to coordinate the smooth flow and enjoyment of 500lbs of crawfish and 150 people. Seeing all those smiling faces, hearing the jokes and laughs, and the sincere joy in the faces since the last time they saw a friend made it all worth it.
As my CEO, Shawn Folks, and myself served our employees, besides asking if they wanted corn, potatoes, and sausage, all I could think about is how lucky I am to have the chance to serve this remarkable group of people. This group of people who will go through sleepless nights to ensure a stranger can sleep more soundly tomorrow. This group of people who will dedicate themselves to just getting it done because getting it done is bigger than themselves. It was my absolute joy and pleasure to serve the people who unknowingly give so much to me. And in that moment of reflection, the thought occurred to me how vital it is for a successful company to guarantee human connection is a priority.
Humans are social creatures. Everything within us is wired to belong. In our digital, post-pandemic world, authentic human connections are fading fast. People need real connections more than ever. It is vitally important to be intentional and purposeful in engaging and connecting with your employees. Whether it is serving boiled crawfish, a simple fist bump, or a smile, belonging and connection are crucial for a healthy, thriving company.
Within the trend of remote and work from home options, companies should not overlook the impact of belonging and human connection. Research has shown that human connections improve mental and physical health. And as an employer, don’t we all want healthy employees?
When companies begin to lose human connections, employee engagement and retention will begin to suffer. According to a C-suite survey, a sense of employee connection is the number one challenge. And 75% of those executives state that their employees would give up a lot to work for a company where they would feel more connected. But 96% of those same executives also believe that employees who feel more connected are motivated and perform at a higher level. Which backs up another survey completed by Enboarder that states 94% of employees are more productive when they feel connected to their colleagues.
Human connections cannot be forced. It is something that happens naturally. Employers, though, can set that stage for people to connect on an authentic level. It all starts and ends with leadership. You know the phrase, “As goes the leader, so goes the team.” If the leader is not doing it, there is a high probability no one else will either. So, how can leaders encourage and demonstrate human connection?
Be authentic. We all can tell when someone is putting on a ‘front’ or tolerating people or situations. The best and easiest way for leaders to grow and cultivate human connections is being authentic. Show up as you. The more you show up as you, your employees will do so in return.
Be intentional. How many times a day do we ask the question, ‘Hey, how is your day?’ and then hardly hear and listen to the reply? Or how many times do we ask how they are doing and follow up with a question on an assignment? Focus on the employee during a morning check-in and that’s it! Anything beyond that makes the check-in invalidated with potentially an ulterior motive undertone. Be intentional to simply see how they are doing.
Be value focused. Establish a set of company core values that employees can get behind and share. As humans, we connect with people who share our values. Values are the foundation for every human interaction and decision. The same goes for companies. Communicate those values consistently and often, and let those values be the compass behind every policy and company strategy.
Be seen. Just get out there! Not one leader can develop and cultivate any connection if they are not getting out there with the people. However, you do it, just do it!
The lack and presence of human connection is being felt not only in the workforce but in the world as well. Let’s bring it back! Let’s be human. Connect, reach out, be authentic, be intentional, and let’s create a sense of belonging in our workplaces, in our worlds.
Marcie Richardson
With over 20 years of HR experience, Marcie understands the struggles companies face in compliance regulation and policy structure. She recognizes that effective company culture and policies start with how we treat employees. As the COO of Guarantee Restoration Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she values the need for a strong company culture to ensure operational continuity. Marcie obtained her IICRC in WRT and ASD because she believes to truly understand the needs of each employee, you need to understand their job. Marcie also holds a Louisiana Department of Insurance License in Health, Life & Accident.
marcie@guaranteerestoration.
www.guaranteerestoration.com
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