When I first heard that saying, I thought it was the saddest thing that I had ever heard. I was fresh faced, motivated, inspired to be working in Human Resources for one of the worlds biggest resource companies and was genuinely surprised that anyone could have that attitude. The employees who were saying this were blessed, in my opinion. They were earning an exorbitant amount of money to work half the year, be fed, clothed and work with a great team. How could they possibly think that “going with the flow” was even an option?
As I gained experience, learned more about employee engagement and motivation in the workplace and observed behaviours in different work environments, the fog of innocence started to lift. I saw employees trying to improve things but coming up against blockers. I saw suggestions falling on deaf ears.I saw people taking the time to develop the solutions to be told that it was not possible. I began to realise that there are work environments where the only way to survive is to adopt an attitude of apathy, as sad as it is. This is not only for the organisation, who is losing the drive that the individual provides, but mainly, for the person, as they will never feel engaged while working in that environment.
When the best employees no longer care, it is high time to take a good look at what is causing the apathy. A passionate employee will persist with sharing their suggestions, complaints and opinions for a long time even when being met with resistance before they eventually give up. As leaders we need to be on the lookout for signs that a culture is developing where apathy is the easiest option. Tim McClure, Professional Speaker, Coach and Leadership Consultant quotes:
“The biggest concern for any organisation should be when their most passionate employee becomes quiet.”
If you are getting the same complaint from more than one employee, chances are, it is warranted. The best way to approach this is to acknowledge the issue and provide updates on the status. If it is a work in progress, communicate it, along with evidence that this is, in fact, a priority for the organisation. Show appreciation for the patience that the workers are displaying, encourage them to stay the course before they give up and no longer care.
The employees who put in their best each and every day expect something in return. They are going the extra mile because they believe in the work that they are doing, the team that they are a part of and the company that they are doing it for. The employees who give their best are the ones that will get disgruntled the quickest when they feel like they are no longer being heard. It is also true that those employees are the ones that are most sought after by your competitors. An unengaged employee is looking for a better option, and the level of connection and support that they are receiving determines that engagement. Do not allow the culture to become that where apathy is the easiest option.
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