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Employee Engagement

Engaged and willing employees work harder. They care more about the quality of their output, and the work of their organization. Employees are engaged and willing when they feel their work counts. To foster these feelings, genuinely talk about this simple equation below regarding employability. Talking about employability with the workforce will naturally lead to higher engagement.
This equation works for any individual contributor, manager or executive who reports to a boss. Your employability is equal to the value you provide divided by the maintenance you require.
Employability (and engagement) is equal to the value you provide your boss divided by the maintenance you require.

Your employability is equal to the value you provide divided by the maintenance you require. I have observed this truism as an employee with many bosses, and in my own leadership roles, over a 35 year career. A moderate value employee who requires no maintenance is more employable than a higher value employee who is high maintenance (consuming your time, miring you in damage control, requiring high compensation).

Professional Male
EMPLOYABILITY

This is how secure your job is, how much your boss or client wants to keep you, how high you’ll rise in the organization.  This can go up if your value is higher and maintenance is lower.  Rising stars have high value and low maintenance.

Make sure you always have a value to maintenance ratio greater than 1. 

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VALUE

This is the value or benefit you provide your boss or client. It’s always judged by them, your superiors, not by you. It's subjective also, despite published HR rules. It’s not just raw work output, but work that your boss or client (or somebody they want to please) likes, wants, and needs.

Anticipate needs and bring solutions.

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MAINTENANCE

This is what you require from your management, or client, in order to provide your value. Examples include your compensation, demands you place on your boss' time compared to your peers, or conflict you may create that requires your boss to resolve.

 

Knock out training early, 

proofread, check math,

be happy. 

As a manager, have forthright conversations with employees about their Employability as it relates to the Value they provide and Maintenance they require.   
Use stories about V and M and be honest about your desires as a boss.
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