How to involve your teams? 5 tips for managers

The involvement of teams at work is a prerequisite for operational efficiency and company performance. Here are five tips for managers to successfully involve their teams in the daily life of the company.  

1. Develop a bond of trust and respect

First and foremost, it is important for managers to create a relationship of trust and mutual respect with their teams. This is a prerequisite to ensure the commitment and motivation of employees. The manager must therefore demonstrate certain qualities that are essential to gain the trust of employees, such as leadership skills, listening skills, humility, exemplarity, natural authority, emotional intelligence, optimism, etc. If guided by an inspiring, charismatic and exemplary leader, employees will naturally be more involved and motivated to achieve the objectives set.  

2. Ensure well-being at work

Logically, a happy employee will be more productive and committed. To involve employees, it is therefore essential to ensure a good quality of life at work. This includes:

• A good balance between professional and personal life.
• A comfortable work environment that is conducive to concentration and productivity.
• A positive and caring work environment.
• Fair working conditions (salaries in line with responsibilities, reasonable working hours, paid vacations, etc.).
• Good team cohesion and a spirit of mutual aid.
• Professional development opportunities.
• An open and benevolent dialogue.

 

3. Give meaning to work

The loss of meaning in work is one of the first causes of disengagement among employees. This is why it is up to the manager to convey to teams a strong, engaging and meaningful common vision. The line manager must also share, on a daily basis, the company's values and culture with employees. In addition, it is important to set clear and realistic objectives so as not to discourage teams because of vague or unattainable directives.  

4. Implement a participative management style

The management style implemented by the manager plays a central role in the involvement of teams. To boost commitment, participative management (also called collaborative management) is undoubtedly the most effective. With this type of management, employees are strongly involved in every aspect of the company's life: operational missions but also strategic decision-making and reflection phases. This type of management aims to empower and reinforce autonomy and initiative-taking. It promotes commitment, motivation, a sense of belonging, but also collective intelligence and a sense of innovation. In addition, participative management is a horizontal management style that places all company employees at the same level, breaking hierarchical codes and favouring transversal communication.  

5. Create sources of motivation

To involve your teams in your work, it can be very beneficial to introduce motivational levers. For example, you could set up a reward system to value individual performance: bonuses, additional vacations, gift vouchers, etc. It is also important to ensure the professional development of your teams, by helping individuals boost their skills to attain their career objectives.