US Marine Corps Brigadier General James Glynn, has a significant challenge he is trying to solve for: how to encourage more Marines to stay in the organization beyond their first four-year enlistment period.
During a recent visit to Cleveland, Gen Glynn met with a small group of professionals in the leadership development space to explore the question.
My primary takeaway from the discussion that day was this: while the issue at the Marines is complicated, compassion may be at the center of solving this challenge for them… just as it is the key to raising engagement and retention at any organization.
Non-Negotiables
And while it sounds a little simplistic, and even a little “soft,” (…especially for the Marines!) there is a growing body of evidence that points to compassion and human connection as non-negotiables for creating successful enterprises.
In his book Exception to the Rule The Surprising Science of Character-Based Culture, Engagement, and Performance, my friend Peter Rea says:
“If we are going to move the needle on only 30 percent of employees being engaged and only 11 percent being passionate about their work, [Recent Gallup workplace survey results.] then people will need to experience empathy and compassion [from those who lead them.]”
Leaders who find ways to foster empathy and compassion in their interactions with their teammates raise the engagement levels on their teams because of the signals that those actions send: You belong. You matter. You make a difference.
Rea also goes on to say:
“How people treat each other on a team is a better predictor of performance than who is on the team.”
How You Treat People Matters
So, all things being equal, while talent is important, the primary driver of success over the long term is how people treat each other.
How are you treating your teammates, colleagues, vendors, direct reports? How intentional are you about tuning-in to the way your leadership behavior impacts others? When is the last time you helped someone on your team feel that they belong, that they matter, or that they make a difference?
Compassion – and the human connections that are created by cultivating it as you lead others – are powerful drivers of success in any organization.
Even in the Marines. Even in yours.
