Improving employee engagement can be a complicated matter, particularly when your business is relatively new and you don’t yet have comprehensive measures in place to measure it. The first mistake that many companies make is chasing after an easy solution to improve employee engagement, or more commonly, to view engagement as nothing more than satisfaction, and spend money on a superficial solution to a different problem. For years, employers have attempted to solve employee engagement through introducing free play equipment or cafeteria-style snack bars, but what they rarely do is address the bigger picture: increasing company awareness, communication, retention, and motivation. It’s been proven that improving employee engagement will help companies retain more workers, grow faster, and win more of the workforce in new markets. Here are some of the best strategies for improving employee engagement and turning a good impression on customers and investors.
One of the first strategies for improving employee engagement is to create an atmosphere of inclusion. When you are trying to get more engaged employees understand the value of belonging and feel a sense of responsibility, as well as a sense of pride in their work. If your company does not already do this, it is time to implement a program that encourages all employees to participate meaningfully in company events, programs, and activities. Go above and beyond what is usual, going the extra mile for an increase in engagement.
Another strategy for improving employee engagement levels is to ensure that there is a strong and consistent company culture. A strong company culture is one of the key elements of high engagement levels. For instance, on an official Facebook page for your company, include a few sentences about what your company does and why your employees are so passionate about it. This alone will go a long way in creating an engagement strategy.
A third strategy for improving employee engagement is to train employees on effective communication skills. This strategy goes hand-in-hand with the second strategy listed above. Your employees need to know that there is value to sharing their thoughts and that the company supports them in doing so. You should have regular training sessions for employees to reinforce this message. The best training programs are those that take employees out of their comfort zones and teach them something new. The old-fashioned method of sitting down and talking with employees is not as effective as an online or video training program.
Finally, there are a few simple rules to follow for improving employee engagement. When you are expecting a high level of engagement, it is important that your employees understand what is expected of them and that they feel like part of a vibrant, successful organization. Having meaningful discussions, setting goals, rewarding employees who exceed expectations and providing assistance to people who may be struggling with career choices are just a few of the activities that can increase engagement. If your business has these kinds of activities going on, it will likely be easier for low-engaged employees to engage.
If your employees are disengaged, they are not giving their best efforts. They may show up for work on time, but they probably won’t feel like they have accomplished anything for you. They may have given the information that they have provided, but they may also have gotten distracted by other things. On the flip side, when employees feel like they are part of an engagement process, they will be engaged. They will want to go beyond simply giving information and might even take risks to do so. Engaged employees are more likely to reach goals, they are more pleasant to work with, and they will be more appreciated.
These are just a few of the ways that an employee engagement strategy can improve the quality of your employee productivity. It can also improve employee retention. If people feel like they are a part of a thriving organization, they are more likely to stay. This is true even if the organization is doing poorly in some areas. If employees know that they are vital to a company, they will want to stay and maybe bring others with them. This could lead to increased productivity.
The bottom line is that there is a direct and significant effect of an employee engagement strategy on the quality of output. There are many different ways to measure this, but all agree that there is a measurable positive impact. In addition, there are many intangible benefits as well. People who feel like they are part of something that is thriving are going to be much happier than those who feel like they are on their own. Overall, companies that embrace these strategies are going to experience both direct and indirect positive effects.
