When an emphasis is placed on employee engagement, several things begin to happen. Productivity increases, turnover goes down, and employees feel like valued team members. When an employee feels like a valued team member, they are more likely to give every task their all, improve customer satisfaction, and be more productive and innovative themselves. Here are some tips on improving employee engagement at your company:
Approach Employees as Individuals
Do you use the same approach when speaking to each of your employees? One approach may work for some, but it may leave others feeling left out, or confused about the message you are trying to convey. Cultivating healthy work relationships and understanding how each of your employees’ function as individuals is an essential part of effective communication.
When we better understand who our colleagues are as people, it is easier to develop new ideas together, and form a more cohesive team environment. A way to learn more about your employees could be as simple as conducting DISC personality tests or setting up regular one-on-one lunches when time allows.
Provide Opportunities for Training and Coaching
Even in contract and project-based roles, employees want to see how their role will further their career. Will it provide training for them to move up from Apprentice to Journeyman? Will they be able to train others or gain management experience? Though their next career move may be a project at a different company, if they have a good experience and feel actively engaged while working with you, chances are they’ll be back again.
In an increasingly competitive job market, the more an employer can provide as far as career development, training, and benefits, the more likely they are to retain engaged top talent.
Choose the Right Managers, and Hold them Accountable
Having the right people in the right seats is key to the success of any company. If someone is very good at their job tasks, but not the best at handling conflicts or having difficult conversations, they may not be a good fit for a management role. Choosing who will lead a team is an important decision and could make or break the success of your team.
The skills that make a good manager go above and beyond basic job duties. It’s easier to keep employees engaged when their manager is approachable, knowledgeable, and a good communicator. This seat should be filled by someone who can interact well with several different types of personalities.
Give Regular Feedback
Many employees only get the chance to sit down one-on-one with their supervisor once every year or six months to discuss work performance. One great way to keep employees engaged is to keep them updated on their performance vs. expectations. If an employee is unsure of how they are contributing, or if they are unaware that they are not meeting job expectations, they may be more likely to be a disengaged employee and seek work opportunities elsewhere. On the other hand, when employees are recognized for their hard work and feel appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged and stick with their role.