I'm sure many of us have seen the video of MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen telling her company's employees to "leave Pity City" and focus on meeting their revenue goal. The clip, which has been shared far and wide on the internet, shows Owen responding to questions about employee bonuses with a rant that is callous and tone-deaf. And while many commenters, news outlets, and blogs are more than happy to pile on and reprimand Owen for what she said during the meeting, I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt. In what seems to me like an attempt to motivate and light a fire under MillerKnoll's employees, she burned herself.
Owen's sentiment was likely not meant to be deliberately insensitive or hurtful. However, her words demonstrate the disconnect between leadership and employees. As leaders, we want everyone to be as invested in our organization's success as we are. That's a tall order in today's world, especially if employees do not feel valued or heard.
Leaders need to guide and motivate employees effectively. How we choose to do that is also critical, and there are a few things leaders should consider before communicating with their employees.
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