I passed a banner on a neighbor’s house that said, “Welcome Home.” Imagine the visitor’s delight at seeing such a sign. How welcoming are you in your organization?
I visited a company recently where a greeter waves and says good morning to each employee as they drive in the parking lot. Do you engage in behaviors and create an atmosphere that includes others and makes them feel a part of things?
To find out, ask yourself these questions:
- How inclusive are our meetings? Do we invite the appropriate people to either inform them or solicit their input?
- How do we orient new employees? Do we let them start and figure things out on their own or do we take time to show them around, introduce them to others, talk with them about the culture, mutual expectations and what we each need to succeed?
- Do you sit with the same people you usually sit with or know when you go to a meeting?
- Do you introduce yourself to others you don’t know?
- Do you include food at your meetings or put candy at the reception desk?
It is a way to be welcoming, as if someone were coming to your home. You do not have to have a “Welcome to Work” banner to make people feel welcome. Taking small steps to create this environment will shift people’s level of engagement. As we know, when engagement increases, turnover decreases, productivity increases and people will have more fun.