In his 1994 book The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, author and consultant Peter Senge speaks of the tribes of northern Natal in South Africa and their friendly greeting to each other: Sawu bona. It literally means “I see you.” If you’re a member of the tribe, you answer back Sikhona, “I am here.”
How many times have you walked past your employees without so much as an eyebrow raise or a nod? Your employees are living breathing humans who have emotional needs. One of them the need to be acknowledged! If you’re trying to keep people motivated during a tough economy, you better, at a minimum, acknowledge their existence.
One of the simplest ways to engage your staff on a daily basis, again, is to connect over “little known facts.” If they have hobbies, pets, children, interests outside of work, or any other thing that they get excited over, ask them about it! It’s a great way to check in with them and tell them Sawu bona.