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From Unfulfilled to Engaged and Happy
Nikki Lewallen hosts the Gut Plus Science Podcast, a show where CEOs talk about culture, data, and decision-making.
John, Sandra, and Nikki wasted no time and jumped straight into the topic of “Sunday night dread”…
According to a survey conducted last year, 76% of people in America said that they experienced some sort of physical or mental sickness or stress the day before their workweek begins. That is an insane number of people dreading the idea of going to work!
To help leaders address that, Nikki enumerated the three non-negotiable needs of people, as confirmed by her own company’s team members. These are extremely important in helping people come alive in the workplace, regardless of the employee’s position, whether a high-level executive or an entry-level field worker.
The three non-negotiable needs:
- Safety – the solid foundation of trust that allows one to fell safe to express himself or herself freely at work
- Meaning – aligning one’s purpose with the company’s and understanding how those two come together, so that the employee feels that he or she is moving the company’s business as well as his or her personal mission forward
- Capacity – is the company pouring resources to provide someone with the tools and training that one need to be the best he or she can be at the workplace
Feedback is the breakfast of champions. – Nikki Lewallen
Digging deeper into the topic, Nikki recommends meeting with each employee at least once every two weeks to coach and guide them forward. The dynamics of one-on-one time involves three spokes:
- Personal relationship development – get to know their kids’ names, what’s going on in their lives, etc.
- Going back to “whys” – big picture stuff dealing with questions like “Why are you here?”, “What are your major goals?”
- Key Performance Indicators – business-related goals
Give negative feedback privately and praise publicly. Always. – Sandra Crawford-Williamson
Nikki closed the episode by encouraging leaders to develop their listening skills with a friendly reminder: when communicating with anyone, figure out what you can learn by not interjecting.
What You’ll Learn
- How to create a team that actually looks forward to Mondays
- The importance of assessments in aligning people’s work life with what brings them joy
- The three non-negotiable needs of people in the workplace
- How to develop a team where people can make mistakes in a safe environment
- The three spokes of one-on-one time with each team member
- How to handle “defensive” employees who are too sensitive to constructive feedback
- How to position and deliver both negative and positive feedback
Resources
Bio
The first thing to know about Nikki Lewallen is that she’s passionate. Really passionate…about helping millions love their work, about giving back, about investing in people. In Gut + Science, these callings come to life in the form of high-energy interviews designed to help pave the way for people-first cultures, and give leaders the inside scoop on how to build winning cultures and companies.
As a business development specialist, speaker and philanthropist, Nikki has helped countless executives make meaningful, relationship-oriented investments. A natural connector of people and avid proponent of robust company culture, she’s also part of a platform being used by CEOs and leaders
