Working with Disengaged Employees

By: ActionCOACH Team

Date: 01 / 11 / 2024

It can be hard to know just how to handle a disengaged employee. They can wreak havoc on a business, not just in lost ROI, but also morale. But there are a few things that leaders can do in an effort to engage someone who was once engaged but is no longer.

First, you must lead by example. It starts with that age-old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Which never, ever works. People start to smell the hypocrisy from across the room. And this attitude can breed a great deal of ill will. Lead in a way that shows your team that you see yourself as a member, not an emperor lauding their jobs and constant direction and displeasure over them.

Second, be as transparent as possible. This will build trust which, over time, will increase engagement.

Third, create a culture of appreciation. You’re human. It can be easy to get stressed and bogged down. This can lead to overall neglect with employees. Be sure to appreciate an recognize their accomplishments regularly.

It goes a long way. Leaders often get busy with handling many challenging issues and neglecting to show appreciation and recognize accomplishments and efforts on an ongoing basis. Appreciation and recognition increase engagement and those two are correlated. A simple thank you goes a long, long way.

Finally, when possible, be flexible. The more accommodating
you can be in crucial times of need such as deaths and family emergencies, the
better. Understand when an employee has to take a child to a doctor or a school
play.

Collectively, these strategies can turn a disengaged employee into someone who is engaged and loves coming to work every day.

Reason #1: Different styles and methods of business coaching don't work for everyone

It's important to be honest with yourself and conduct a realistic assessment when it comes to business coaching. Though business coaching can have many benefits, it might not work for everyone.

Every individual brings their own experiences and values to the coaching dynamic, so results will vary. Additionally, some individuals might need more than just a coach. They might also need specialised knowledge or communication strategies specific to their industry or target audience. Below are a few key factors to consider:

Reason #2: There is no clear focus or vision (talk about time dedication here too)

cIt's important to be honest with yourself and conduct a realistic assessment when it comes to business coaching. Though business coaching can have many benefits, it might not work for everyone.

Business coaching is an effective tool for developing a clearer focus and vision for growing your business. A good coach will help you to take a comprehensive look at your strengths, weaknesses, and available resources that can be used to reach those goals. They will also help you draw up action plans with step-by-step instructions to get there.

By providing honest feedback and being patient throughout the process, a business coach can make sure that you’re on the right track. This will enable you to set realistic milestones and tasks.

These tasks may need dedicated time outside of coaching sessions. For example, a coach might help a client develop a marketing strategy or implement new systems for managing employees. However, if the client does not have enough time to devote to these tasks outside of coaching sessions, progress will likely stall.

Both the coach and the client must have enough time available to reflect on past experiences, brainstorm new solutions, and test out different strategies. If either party is rushed or distracted during coaching sessions due to other commitments or obligations, they may struggle to fully engage in this process.

Effective business coaching also requires a commitment to regular meetings and ongoing communication. If either the coach or the client does not have enough time to dedicate to these meetings, progress may be slow or nonexistent.

It's important to recognise that business coaching is an ongoing process that takes time to yield results. While some clients may see improvements after just a few sessions with their coach. Others may need months or even years of consistent effort before they begin seeing real changes in their businesses.

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