Employee engagement is good for business. That’s certainly the evidence from the likes of Gallup and Deloitte. Not only are engaged workforces up to 21% more profitable, they also have lower staff turnover and higher customer satisfaction. As companies return to workplaces following the lockdown, maintaining competitive advantage is more important than ever. An engaged workforce could well give your business that all-important edge. But how do you go about encouraging employee engagement? Here we share some good practice tips to get you started.
Employee Engagement Starts With Onboarding
Employee engagement isn't just a tick-box exercise. It needs to be incorporated into everything you do, starting with onboarding.
Effective onboarding helps staff to appreciate how their efforts contribute to the bigger picture. And it’s also critical for developing social relationships, camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose. It's the recruit's introduction to the company culture and what’s important to you.
A great onboarding experience is a proven way to reap the maximum lifetime value from your employee. Invest in this crucial process to get off to the best possible start. And see your employee engaged from day one.
Involve Staff In Setting Company Goals
Feeling involved, valued and appreciated is fundamental to employee engagement. Involving employees in goal setting is a sure-fire way to boost engagement. Be sure to set annual, quarterly and monthly goals, so staff have clear boundaries and know what's expected.
And also get team members' input into departmental and corporate goals. That way, they will be invested in the company's overall success.
Acknowledge Employees
Acknowledging employees goes beyond saying thank you – important though that is. It’s more about recognising their hard work and demonstrating that their contributions matter.
Employee recognition schemes are one easy-to-implement and low-cost way to acknowledge employees’ efforts. Reward those employees who go the extra mile with a public thank you and a write-up in the staff newsletter. And start up a company tradition of birthday shoutouts as well as celebrating anniversaries and achievements outside work.
Develop Employees
Opportunities to develop and grow at work are essential drivers of employee engagement. In fact, according to one recent study, for 9 out of 10 millennials, career development is critical to them. And the good news is that employers also stand to benefit from employees’ continuing professional development.
Development doesn't have to be of the traditional classroom variety. Technology has opened up new opportunities that are a better fit for modern lifestyles. Take your pick from webinars, podcasts, wikis and distance learning as well as mentoring, work shadowing and secondments.
Working with the employee, set up an individual development plan that will enhance their skills and provide a challenge. Book in regular reviews to track progress. These meetings will also signal to staff how much you value their career growth.
Invest In Engagement
Use these easy-to-implement ideas and kick-start employee engagement in your company. The rewards on offer will be well worth the investment.
Are you a fantastic employer who's invested in the engagement of their staff and is looking to hire? Get in touch to see how we can help you find the perfect candidates to match your culture, contact:info@allen-york.comor call 01202 888986 today.