The latest “Engage” episode takes viewers out West.
The 4-minute video features managers and supervisors in Western Area’s Dakotas District discussing their efforts to foster employees’ enthusiasm, involvement and commitment to their work.
“Engagement is leadership. You’ve got to lead by example,” says Dakotas District Manager Douglas Stephens. “You can’t ask people to do things you’re not willing to do yourself.”
The district — which covers North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and part of Minnesota — had the highest district-wide response rate on the most recent Postal Pulse employee survey.
District leaders attribute this success to their emphasis on providing employees with the tools and information they need to do their jobs.
One example: The Tea, SD, Post Office, where employees say they feel empowered by Postmaster Lori Kjose’s management style.
“She has our backs,” says Rural Carrier Associate Christine Yapp. “She knows that we do our job and we do our jobs well.”
Dave Hughes, another rural carrier associate at the Tea Post Office, says good managers like Kjose “want to know how you’re doing and what they can do to make your job easier.”
This is the seventh video in the “Engage” series. Previous installments have addressed such topics as employee wellness in Great Lakes Area and employee safety in Pacific Area.