Supervisors should create a way for line employees to question the expectations for their work output because that creates a way to identify inefficient or unnecessary steps in the process, according to a blog by the Partnership for Public Service.
“The fact is, if leaders don’t ask for feedback, they probably will not get it. Leaders should not expect direct reports to speak up whenever they see a broken process unless they are facilitating conversations that help them feel comfortable doing so,” it says.
“Conversely, if leaders just expect employees to churn out sandwiches every three minutes, they are never going to have the time to identify these issues. As a result, they will be disengaged, and the customers will suffer.”
“If the American public is to receive essential services, our government needs an engaged and well-functioning federal workforce. The more government leaders inspire their employees to find solutions to key challenges, the more effective their agencies will be at supporting the public’s needs,” it says.