Google has an internal website called “Google Ideas.” Googlers submit their suggestions on how to improve a product or how to make things better at Google. Their co-workers can read this site and give their feedback by rating the suggestion and leaving comments. Management monitors this website very closely so they can stay abreast of their employees’ feelings.
Opinions Matter
Your company can create an expressive outlet for your employees. This will empower them to make suggestions that will probably help the company function better, creating engagement and loyalty.
You need to show your employees that their opinions matter.
You don’t need a computer program to keep track of all the suggestions. All you need is a box where employees can anonymously drop in suggestions as well as encouragement from the company explaining the importance of giving this a fair try.
Implement and Watch What Happens
This may be hard to foster in an old-school company, but there is always hope. It starts with small steps. Explain how it will improve employee engagement and customer loyalty.
Implement the program for only a month and watch the magic slowly occur. It’s like magical fairy dust that lifts morale and improves the company.
I know I’m pouring it on a little thick, but trust me it works.
If the employees don’t come up with some awesome ideas that make them more productive then scrap it, but if they do then you’ve just struck employee gold.
*
Work Happy Now created an ebook to share some of Google’s secrets on how you can grow your company and be happy at work. You’ve just read a chapter from the ebook. It contains enlightening and practical information that businesses and employees can all use.
We will be publishing a new chapter every Tuesday. If you don’t want to wait that long for this glorious information then just sign up for my RSS or email and receive the Free eBook “Work Happy the Google Way.”
If you liked this chapter from the ebook you'll enjoy these too:
Hi Karl
This is such a good idea. They sould like a great company to work for. Do you know anyone there?
I know a couple of people who have left their jobs mainly because they could see potential for the company but management just wasn't interested in even hearing them out.
The other problem is to get through the levels to someone who may well be willing to listen.
Juliet
I think Google have it right, they understand what their staff needs and listening to their ideas helps them to work as a company. I think the policies like flexi time and gives people the chance to have real work from home.
Employee suggestions are a great idea; they're the people on the ground and know what will make their work and the company better. I'd add that management needs to have some sort of system or method in place to make sure suggestions are followed up. I'm not sure what would be worse, not having an employee suggestion box or having the box and ignoring the suggestions.
Hi Karl: The best ideas on how to improve a product, process or service comes from those who are actually involved first hand with them, and that's usually not management but the employees. In addition, we all need to feel that we have a voice in a place that takes up as much of our time and energy as the workplace does.
Google is the obvious example. However, small companies like Insomniac Games have excellent company culture as well.
Employees' opinions matter. It's great to encourage employers to listen to them.