Employees are the product, and they’re not happy
A corporate leader says trust can be boosted by treating workers like customers—except the customers are also the ones doing the work.
The story
A BCG partner claims that 46% of employees trust their leaders, and that leaders can improve trust by treating employees as customers and focusing on emotional needs.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Leaders are told to treat employees like customers, but they’re also expected to be the ones who make the product—work—delightful. It’s like asking a chef to both cook and serve the meal while also ensuring the diners feel valued. The only difference is that the diners are also the ones doing the cooking.
So, if a leader wants to boost trust, they must not only explain the ‘why’ behind tasks but also celebrate people and involve them in decisions. It’s a lot to ask of someone who’s already expected to lead, manage, and maybe even do a little cleaning on the side.
But the real twist is that the product is the employees themselves. If they don’t feel respected, they won’t show up. And if they don’t show up, the CEO’s annual report will be a little less shiny.
