(Picture: Bronco Riding at Texas State Fair)
Strategy 4 Saturday Blog (<4 minute read)
“The Most Texas Place on Earth!”
Yesterday, I was at the Texas State fair and we experienced what they call “The Most Texas Place on Earth!” We saw gigantic turkey legs, rabbits, carnival rides, strongest man competition, a country concert, the hype of the Red River Rivalry (#1 Texas vs #18 Oklahoma) and of course, the rodeo. The rodeo night was highlighted by the bronco and bull riding.
As you may know, the tough cowboys have 8 seconds to stay on the animal or they don’t even qualify for the prize winnings. As a cowboy, you have to stay focused and engaged because you are riding a wild animal over 1,000 pounds. During the bull riding contest, none of the cowboys were able to stay on the bull for 8 seconds. A few of the cowboys were trampled by the bulls – it was not a pretty sight.
Business Ownership Can Feel Like Riding a Bull
As a business owner, managing your employees can feel like riding a bull. If the employees don’t stay engaged and focused, they will not be able to handle the people, process, and systems or the “beast” of an organization. The problem is it can be very tricky to keep your top talent or they will fall off to get their prize winnings somewhere else. This is the challenge for business owners – how do we create an environment where our team stays engaged and has the courage to lead in good and challenging times.
Employee Engagement
This upcoming week, the $4M Strategies topic is employee engagement and the power of leveraging strengths. We have four experts Antoni Lacinai, Dr. Amir A Rashidian, Brian Bogert, and Joy Meserve, who will share the expertise on how to keep employees engaged on the 4-minute, $4M Strategies podcast, Tuesday through Friday. In Monday’s episode, I will focus on the employee engagement data from Gallup. At 40 Strategy, we believe that when employees are engaged, they’re not just working—they’re thriving.
Why Focus on Strengths?
Gallup reported in February 2024, that only 30% of employees were engaged. However, when you use CliftonStrengths properly, individuals who actively use their strengths are six times more likely to be engaged in their work and three times more likely to report a higher quality of life. Understanding and utilizing strengths can lead to significant benefits: higher sales, increased profits, and improved team morale.
Practical Steps to Increase Engagement:
- Identify Strengths: Start by having your team complete the CliftonStrengths assessment. This helps everyone understand their unique talents and where they can best contribute.
- Delegate and Gamify: Encourage employees to focus on their strengths and delegate tasks that don’t align with their skills. For example, if someone struggles with networking but excels in problem-solving, consider ways to gamify social tasks, such as meeting five new people at an event and noting their names.
- Use a Team Matrix: A team matrix can show where strengths lie within your leadership group. This not only fosters better communication but also highlights areas where you may need to add talent or adjust responsibilities.
(Picture: StrengthsFinder Team Matrix)
The Business Impact
Engaged employees are not just happier—they’re more productive. Studies show that a focus on strengths can result in a 10-19% increase in sales and a 14-29% boost in profits. By investing in tools like Gallup’s StrengthsFinder, you’re investing in the well-being and effectiveness of your team.
If you’re interested in exploring how these strategies can drive your business forward, let’s connect. And as always, here’s to creating a culture where every team member feels empowered and engaged. Beat the odds to keep your employees engaged and ride the wave to success.
Enjoy your sports weekend.
Go Dawgs! 🐾 Go TCU Soccer Frogs!
(Picture: TCU Soccer Win over West Virginia)
Happy Saturday!
Next Week’s Podcast Schedule:
$4M Strategies Podcast Topic: Employee Engagement
- Mon, 10/14 – Carl J Cox
- Tues, 10/15 – Antoni Lacinai
- Weds, 10/16 – Dr. Amir A Rashidian
- Thurs, 10/17 – Brian Bogert
- Fri, 10/18 – Joy Meserve
- Tues, 10/15 – Mark Podolsky
- Thurs, 10/17 – Laura Casselman (re-release)
