Replace a pyramid of people with a pyramid of behaviors and actions

Most of us would agree that it is important for leadership and executives to be engaged at work and that executives can set a tone throughout the organization. Unfortunately our way of thinking about roles at work and the way some of us lead thwart engagement. Here are 3 phrases from a recent post on executive engagement by a well known engagement consultancy:

In any company, engagement comes from the top.

This is the only way to drive and sustain engagement throughout the organization because engagement at the top cascades down the line.

Everything executives do has an effect on the people beside them and below them.

Yikes. When we think of people being on top of others or that other employees are below executives I believe this very conception thwarts much engagement. We must begin to see ourselves on the same level as everyone we work with. Our ancient pyramid conception of employee roles is antiquated and counterproductive to engagement. Remember, pyramids were built to house dead people.

No top, no bottom, no above, no below. Yes, employees have different roles and functions but lets all get on the same level and engage for the benefit of all.

Do you believe leaders must level?

David Zinger is an employee engagement speaker and expert who resides on the Canadian prairies. Being a flat lander he believe we must level with everyone we work with. He has created a pyramid of engagement based on functions and behaviors not people and roles.