Melina Murray

I have always been an advocate of talking to employees. Just talking. Asking about their day, how things are going, how a specific project is going, any random topic.

My purpose? Get to know them and let them know that I see them as individual people, not just another employee. In small companies, this is not difficult. In larger ones, it will take time to talk to everyone, but it can be done.

Chris Bailey at Bailey WorkPlay wrote “Do Your Employees Feel Invisible” and it made me think about how a little focus goes a long way. Although Chris says “stop with the small talk”, I find that small talk can lead to bigger and better conversations. Add in genuine praise and acknowledgment for successes and strengths and you have a recipe for a healthier, more production team

I think this is a very important habit for managers, and I also think it is vital for Human Resources. While I am not suggesting becoming friends with all employees, I am suggesting opening the path of communication. Neither managers nor HR should be sitting behind closed doors most of the day.

Chris quoted How The Way We Talk Can Change The Way We Work and I want to highlight the first sentence of that quote:

We all do better at work if we regularly have the experience that what we do matters, that it is valuable, and that our presence makes a difference to others.