From Snacks to Surveys: Keeping Employees Engaged In Private And Public Sector with Laurice Gonzales

Speak In Flow

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Speak in Flow podcast. We're joined by Laurice Gonzales, a seasoned project manager at San Francisco Public Works, who shares her unique insights into the communication dynamics of both the public and private sectors. Laurice draws from her experience in private tech and government roles, offering a respectful and insightful comparison that highlights the importance of tailored communication strategies in each environment.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Differences in Employee Engagement Strategies

Laurice dives into how communication strategies differ between the public and private sectors. While private companies often include perks like free snacks and games to boost employee engagement, the public sector focuses on alternative ways to connect with staff, particularly when such perks aren't available.

Employee Engagement Without Perks

Laurice discusses the approach of communication in the public sector in maintaining employee engagement, emphasizing the importance of fostering strong manager-employee relationships over occasional incentives.

The Role of Managers

The episode explores how the relationship between supervisors and staff is crucial in building a positive workplace culture. Laurice highlights that, in the absence of flashy incentives, it’s the quality of these relationships that truly impacts employee satisfaction and engagement.

Top-Down Communication

Laurice contrasts the impact of top-down communication in private tech companies and the difference in collaborative approaches between public sector organizations. She discusses how these differences shape the workplace environment and employee morale.

Purpose and Vision

Laurice emphasizes the importance of connecting employees' daily tasks to the larger vision and purpose of the organization. This connection enhances motivation and helps create a more engaged and committed workforce.

Memorable Quotes:

“So the kind of relationship that the supervisor and the staff have plays a big part in a culture in the culture that you know we're trying to form. And I'm lucky because in public works you do have supervisors who really care about the people in their team. They would try to look for ways on how to make the workplace better.”

“Showing to staff that you care goes a long way. And they're not always easy conversations, but having the conversation makes a whole lot of difference.”

“Communications and culture change is not something that happened, or like change overnight. But I think to try and inch our way towards making those improvements, as well, matters extremely.”

Connect with Laurice Gonzales:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurice.gonzales.art/
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurice-gonzales/

About the Guest:

Laurice Gonzales was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2013. With a background in Mass Communication, she began her career in advertising. After relocating to the U.S., she initially worked for the Superior Court of California and later spent four years in a private tech company. Despite her success in the private sector, Laurice felt drawn back to the government sector, where she fully embraced project management. Now, she focuses on projects aimed at boosting employee engagement and enhancing the overall workforce experience. Laurice is passionate about finding ways to improve workplace processes and is always eager to learn more about effective communication and efficient project management.

About Melinda:

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.

She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.

Website: https://speakinflow.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall

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