3 Reasons Why Business Leaders Should Talk to Base-Level Employees

Perceptions of the boss sitting in a 20th-floor office, never interacting with low-level employees, are often accurate. Executive-level management rarely deals with entry-level staff. While a CEO or EVP won't engage in day-to-day professional interactions with mailroom workers or assistants to middle managers, who says that execs can't make time to say hello now and then? Doing so could prove beneficial for everyone in the company in a few different ways. 

Improve Morale

Any positive actions by upper management won't go unnoticed by people down the chain of command. Taking the initiative to extend a hand and say a few kind words to a base-level employee could boost morale. Workers like to feel appreciated. When workers feel valued, they tend to be more productive and loyal. Those two traits help a company in many ways.

Approach subordinates carefully, though. Presenting a genuine attitude is best when dealing with employees. Asking innocuous questions about how long they've been with the company and about their families will likely put nervous employees at ease.

Gain Perspective

Being the boss can lock you into a way of seeing things, which creates limitations. Engaging with the same people time and time again doesn't open doors to many differing opinions and perspectives. Speaking with people outside the upper management box, however, has value. Execs could gain unique insights otherwise elusive to them.

After all, employees who work certain jobs or processes are the experts in those areas. An IT tech, for example, might be the best person to speak to when you’re interested in implementing change in computer security. The IT tech deals with daily security matters hands-on. This is why employees should be involved from every level, using the principles of Kaizen to find issues that need to be fixed, collaborate for solutions, and streamline problem solving. 

Ultimately, executives benefit from putting their ego aside and from listening to people at the corporate ladder's lower rungs.

Relearn Humility

It's been said it takes a tremendous ego to serve as a top executive. Believing in yourself and walking with a corporate swagger does help those wishing to swim with the sharks and survive. Too much ego-centrism, however, eventually harms a leader. Egomaniacs’ attitudes veer towards stubbornness and arrogance, two unhelpful traits in a leader. 

Taking a step back and talking with entry-level employees may bring a top-floor executive back to days he or she forgot long ago. The experience could teach humility. Bringing that humility back to the boardroom may deliver a better approach to management.

Executives should be proud of their accomplishments and their roles in their companies. However, feeling pride in base-level staff has benefits, too. Those benefits ripple through the company from the top down.

Want to take your business growth up to the next level? Take a digital workshop with Brandon McCurdy!