These, of course, are precariously challenging economic times. Executives in organizations and owners of smaller businesses get up each morning with a day of wrestling particularly vicious alligators to look forward to. Let’s name a few of the regular reptilian challenges they face: cash flow, retaining customers and clients, avoiding layoffs, coaxing low morale employees to dig down and give that extra effort (that we’ve been asking for since at least last January). Oh yeah, let’s not forget that other ever present alligator with the particularly large teeth–apprehension about losing your own job (or your enterprise, owners out there).

Will you allow me to extend the gator metaphor just a moment longer?…

We tackle the most menacing alligators that are biting our ankles. Some of them we successfully wrestle to the ground; some keep coming back for another chomp. It’s hard, isn’t it, to think about anything else beyond these formidable threats when they seem about to devour you.

We are distracted by alligators.

This brings me to a recent study (July, 2009) by Ipsos Reid Canada indicating that 22% of employees in Canada say their loyalty to their current employer has decreased. That is for the working population in general. In organizations where salaries have been frozen, the number rises to 31% and where staff have been cut, it jumps to 36%.

What is happening here? You would think that in a down economy employees would feel more beholden to a company that continues to provide them with full time employment. If anything, they should feel greater appreciation and loyalty. Ipsos’ resident expert on employee engagement, J.B. Aloy, has an explanation: “Staff who feel their involvement is not acknowledged are more likely to become disloyal.”

I think Mr. Aloy has it right and that it comes back to the alligators. Staff that remain on the payroll are asked to contribute extra effort despite the uncertainty and despite having to pick up the work of people let go or not replaced. I suspect managers are neglecting to recognize and affirm these contributions not because they don’t care or appreciate it. It’s just that they are distracted by those alligators constantly snapping at them.

As frightening and threatening as your immediate problems might be, simply make a point of finding the time to shine the light on your staff and their efforts. You have probably retained your best employees. If they are among the group feeling less loyal, expect to lose a number of them as soon as the job market picks up.

Then, rest assured, you will have one giant alligator in your face!