Let’s focus on Leadership first
In order to engage people in the operation of an organisation they have to be connected with its purpose and the person most connected with the organisation’s purpose must be its leader.
So the primary duty of the leaders of an organisation is to communicate the company’s vision to its employees in a way that engages them and makes them want to take part in it. This communication of the vision is a constant process. None of us work well in a vacuum so we need to be regularly updated on progress and how things are changing.
The flip side of this top-down communication is the need for leaders to demonstrate that they value what their employees are doing. This will involve listening to staff – their achievements and their concerns – when things go right and wrong. Again, none of us like working in a vacuum and we need to feel that someone is appreciating what we do.
So you need to get out there and talk to your employees, lead by example and be open to ideas and feedback.