Employee engagement is all about how emotionally invested and dedicated your payroll is in the organisation’s working. Engaged employees are not merely interested in swanky benefits or a huge salary; they believe in the mission of the company and want it to succeed.
Simply put, employee engagement is the emotional commitment of the employees towards the business and its aims. They want to feel like a valued member of the team and have a say in the organisation.
The importance of employees should not be limited to profit generating tools. A little push and regular motivation is important to keep their spirits high. Here are the top seven (tried and tested) employee engagement ideas that are sure to work wonders for your organisation:
1. Boost Employee Engagement Through Collaborative Working
Companies should leverage technology as a way of encouraging its staff to work virtually. A virtual workforce not only reduces overhead costs, it is also a good indication of the implicit trust you have in your employees too. This in turn will keep your employees more productive, motivated and happy. It will also reduce employee turnover and thereby have a positive impact on training costs.
Fortunately, technology today allows professionals to stay updated on their projects instantaneously through relevant collaboration tools and the social media. Remote working can indeed boost employee engagement in the organisation’s working and encourage better communication between team members.
2. Create a Friendly Atmosphere Where Employees Can Speak Their Mind
An open work atmosphere can encourage employees to work better. However, this policy should be implemented within certain restrictions. Employees can have their say, but as long as they adhere to parameters such as treating colleagues and co-workers with respect, and refraining from unruly, inappropriate behaviour.
An office policy where staff members can speak their minds would also bring the added benefit of generating fresh ideas from the employees themselves. Do not worry if there are people in your organisation who are taking advantage of this policy. Focus on implementing clear guidelines, as this will come to your rescue in case of any complications. The whole idea behind creating a friendly atmosphere is to make all employees feel respected and valued.
3. Drop the Hierarchy and be Flexible
Flexibility and an easy work environment is one of the biggest gifts for any employee. Don’t get bogged down by how your employees get their job done as long as you get satisfactory work, within the stipulated time. If employees get stuck with personal commitments, try adjusting their working hours so that they feel a sense of belonging and will always go the extra mile when you need them the most.
Keep in mind that your employees have other commitments too, in addition to the job. As an owner of the business, you need to oblige and make necessary adjustments. However, be careful to not fall into the trap of fake claims and demands. An open communication policy is important to hold employees in a good stead.
4. Little Ideas of Fun Could Enhance Employee Productivity
It is easy for employees to feel lethargic and bored at work. A contributing factor for this could be low morale. Adding fun to the office environment will help in a number of ways. Today, most startups look for ways to encourage and boost the morale of their employees one way or another. It could be a random dance class in the middle of a day, for example. Moreover, you may get some ideas from the employees themselves. Small bursts of activities can do wonders in increasing the productivity of employees, and coming to office will not seem like a chore either.
5. Encourage Mobile Learning
With Gen Z ready to enter the workforce, this trend is not going to end in the near future. Employees today lead a multi-faceted life juggling work with interests outside of it with hobbies, family and education. It is important that new entrants complete training and access content at the required time and at a pace that suits them. Learning on-the-go allows employees to complete their training wherever and whenever. This method improves enthusiasm, while offering the added benefit of flexible working practices.
6. Don’t Deprive Employees of Positive Feedback
Unfortunately, many employees today are deprived of positive feedback and praise, perhaps because they share a poor relationship with their managers. Recognition and support help employees to easily surmount the challenges of a workplace.
Employee recognition can benefit those who have a healthy relationship with their bosses too. The secret to retaining the best employees and managing a huge workforce is in monitoring their performance and to give credit where it is due. It is also worth remembering to not overlook the extra efforts put in by your employees, and to pay attention to their feedback.
7. Allow Personal Devices at Work
Today, most professionals use two or more devices in their daily lives. Take a look at the millennials, they are almost always glued to their handsets. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) enhances employee engagement, while giving them the flexibility to work from anywhere. This offers a huge benefit especially in the long run. So if you find your employees with their smartphones out during working hours, try to not eyeball them.
Being supportive of your employees can work wonders; they will never think of going behing your back and will probably even put in the extra hours to get work done. Remember, you have employed a human being, not a machine and you need to give respect to get the same in return. If you are thankful to them for their efforts, they will always perform better and more than expected.
Author Bio: Jasika Adams is a writer with a passion for emerging technologies in the areas of human resources, startups and business management. She is a talent acquisition manager currently associated with Index Time Clock. In her free time, she loves to play with her kids and reading mystery books.
Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash
