If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others – African proverb

Ok I admit it, the title is misleading. It should read: “if you want to be innovative, stop hiring employees and start hiring partners.”

All those who manage a budget for a department or company, know that the employees are the most expensive line item in their budget. What’s not known is how effective and efficient is that most expensive line item. A recent Gallup poll reported employee engagement at an all-time low. Since 2009, employee engagement has hovered around 30%. In these competitive times where businesses are looking for 1-2% competitive advantage, 30% employee engagement is like having a sinkhole in the backyard. When customers interact with disengaged employees, no amount of strategy or sophistication will help sustain the business.

Steve Jobs turned around two dying companies from near bankruptcy to today’s most valued companies. His secret: believe in employees and engage them on a higher level. Even after his death, Apple still echoes his message: “Our employees are our most important asset.” Every employee at Apple carries a sense of purpose, and a feeling that I cannot let my team down. Employees take ownership of every aspect of their job and work hard to succeed. Another iconic CEO, Chip Conley, turned his hotel business around, perhaps during the worst time in the hotel industry, by asking employees to look for purpose in their jobs. He likes to tell employees “forget about your job title; think about what would our customers call your job title if they had to describe it through the impact you have on their life.”

I have studied many innovative companies, from 3M to Google, and my research shows a direct correlation between employee engagement and innovation. These innovative companies create a culture where employees see their job as a calling. Employees don’t work for a pay check but rather the pride of their creation and being part something larger than themselves. I have friends at Google who spends weekends at work because they want to, not because someone makes them work weekends. It is not the product or corporate strategy that makes companies innovative, but rather the people who carry out those plans. Tony Hsieh transformed an age old business of selling shoes into a most sought after brand by making employee engagement the top priority at Zappos.

To increase employee engagement, start treating employees as partners. Partners who are responsible for a job function in the company. Give them ownership of something and then get out of their way. You will be shocked to discover how someone’s IQ increases when they are given ownership and responsibility. Psychologists believe that two factors that determine anyone’s engagement in any task are autonomy and control. It does not have to be complete autonomy and control over everything, but a subset of something larger. I have seen employees who were written-up for poor performance transform into star employees after they were made responsible for something. Give them a sense of ownership and watch their creativity soar. This is the sole reason why start-up companies manage to accomplish so much with so little resources.

Here’re four simple steps to transform employee into partners:

1. Make them responsible for something: function, process, territory, project or system
2. Show how their job and actions contributes to the success of the company
3. Ask for suggestions on how to make the company more successful
4. Help build career plans that help them achieve their personal career goals

Innovation is the key to success in future, but you cannot be innovative if your employees are not engaged. As a leader, it is your responsibility to create an environment where employees are engaged and productive. You owe it to your company. Your personal success as a leader and your company’s success depend on how you engage your teams.

Now, I would like to hear your thoughts. I would love to learn how you are engaging your teams or how you are more engaged because you have any of these elements embedded in your job. If you want to add something to it or disagree with my viewpoint, please leave me a note below. I am still learning

Image courtesy of nokhoog_buchachon at FreeDigitalPhotos.net