Like Water, like Waves

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment” – Henry Davis Thoreau

It’s amazing how much we underestimate the power of water and waves. A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration, short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print on a computer screen (are you having some trouble reading this? Then you might need to drink some water).

Water is important to the entire anatomy, physiology and systems of the human body. The body cannot work without it. Like water is critical to life, so is employee engagement absolutely impossible without open and honest communication.

Waves on the other hand are everywhere when you’re by the sea or ocean side. A wave can be described as a disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another location. It however works in sync and all waves clearly understand one another. There’s clarity and purpose with waves at sea. They all seem to be in a concerted motion.

Line leaders, who are serious about purposefully engaging their employees, commit to open and honest communication as they understand that it is the ‘water’ that makes every other engagement secret effective. Employee engagement has been defined as the degree to which an individual is attentive and absorbed in the performance of their roles. Hence, engaged employees are involved, emotionally attached and dedicated to the organization they work for. This can happen for so many reasons, but key is them continually understanding the “why” behind their jobs. The supervisors of engaged employees consistently communicate clearly what they expect them to achieve and why it’s important to the greater good of the organization. Communication is beyond simply talking to employees, but involves listening to them and then providing honest feedback. From sharing the organisation’s mission to sending a simple email, leaders who seek to promote the engagement cause communicate clearly, openly, and honestly. Their verbal, written and non-verbal communication provides clarity on the organization culture and what it stands for.

Like every other relationship in life, communication drives engagement. When trust or credibility which is a product of having open and honest communication is eroded in an organisation, people would begin to feel they are not valued and disengaged. An anonymous quote reads “The basic building block of good communication is the feeling that every human being is unique and of value.”

Like water to the human body, a culture of open and honest communication is vital to the health of an organisation and needs to start at the top. Only then can you foster employee engagement for years to come.

“Leaders who make it a practice to draw out the thoughts and ideas of their subordinates and who are receptive even to bad news will be properly informed. Communicate downward to subordinates with at least the same care and attention as you communicate upward to superiors.”- L.B. Belker

Ngozi Adebiyi