A few years ago, my team and I was working on a 6 months project on-site. The client, a dream client really, being a property developer for the past 35 years is generous, having to cater daily free lunch for their people.
Employee engagement is superb. No one wants to leave. Attrition rate is negligible and that is because someone dies, which is not often.
When they first started, the MD sat where everyone was. 12 years later, they built their own grand building where MD now sits in the penthouse. He lamented at how the staff hardly say hi to him anymore. No one came up for coffee as well.
He felt…abandoned and forgotten.
So, one day just after lunch, Mr MD and I walked to the double escalators. One for staff, the other an executive lift that goes straight to the penthouse. I suggested him to use the same lift as everyone else does. He can continue to do so daily until he does not feel abandoned/forgotten. And only then, switch to his executive escalator.
The coffee thing?
That was fixed as well. Every Monday morning everyone is invited for quick breakfast with him at the penthouse.
All that was needed, was a courageous third eye for perspectives.
HRB