And that’s OK, if you tell me that.
Building a relationship (or group of relationships) needs trust and integrity. Starting that process with disingenuity is a recipe for disaster.
This might be when prospecting.
How many times have you heard:
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 / 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 / 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦.”
It’s an unsuccessful approach because we “feel” that it’s not about us – despite the words.
It might also be with employee listening approaches.
Asking for thoughts on our organisation and 𝘯𝘰𝘵 utilising those inputs is more detrimental to employee engagement than if the survey/forum/town halls weren’t completed in the first place.
Start with integrity. Start with honesty.
If you want to prospect, don’t wrap it in “𝘐’𝘮 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯”.
If you want to create a purposeful culture to engage all employees, do so from a position of transparency and openness.
