When it comes to employee engagement, most of us know the critical role of supervisor-to-employee communications, especially given the proximity of the supervisor and staff working relationship. But a recent study found companies overestimate the importance of this communication.
Watson Wyatt’s Work USA® 2006/2007 research found that “senior leadership and the frequency with which senior managers communicate with employees are far more important drivers of engagement.”
Not to minimize the role of supervisory communications, the study also found “High-engagement employees receive communication from [both] their supervisors and senior management far more frequently than low-engagement employees.”
The bottom line: to engage employees, communication is needed from ALL levels of management.