Unfortunately, although the benefits of employee engagement are widely known and appreciated, companies do not invest enough money and time in finding ways to engage their workforce.
The most recent Gallup Research found that more than 70% of American employees are non- engaged or actively disengaged at work. The research results were published in a comprehensive report called The State of American Workplace. This report can serve us as a great starting point for improving the engagement in our companies. In this article, we are going to provide you with a few insider tips that will help you to engage your employees and boost their productivity.
Use Advanced Software
Surely, there is no shortage of advanced software that deals with productivity and engagement problems. Most articles put the software use on the bottom of their engagement improvement lists, but we have decided to list it at the top, because it is the easiest way to create an instant engagement improvement and productivity boost.
You should use advanced collaboration and time management tools. Many of these programs can be acquired in the form of free trials. My team uses a software called Shiftplanning, which is already big in the business world. You can start from downloading a Shiftplanning scheduling free demo, and if you realize that the tool is improving your team’s productivity, you can easily shift to the paid version.
Start From the Top
Leaders model the desired employee behavior in the corporate environment. This why your engagement improvement should start from the top and work its way down. Educate your managers to demonstrate the characteristics and behaviors they want their employees to acquire.
Several employee surveys have proved that in companies where leaders model the desired behavior, employees are more than 50% more engaged and focused on their work. Creating a strict hierarchy where managers will not socialize with their subordinates leads to employee dissatisfaction, low productivity, and a high turnover.
Improve Workplace Transparency
Even the upper management should be clearly visible and accessible for guidance and assistance. Managers should not close their office doors. They need to see employees work first hand and offer guidance to underachievers and publicly recognize the contribution and achievements of the best workers within the team.
In addition to this, the top managers should know that the transparency in the workplace has a direct correlation with employee engagement. If they trust their employees with sensitive information, they will give them a sense of deeper investment and create a more cooperative atmosphere.
Collective Relaxation
What would you say if I told that you can improve the employee engagement and increase production by wearing ugly sweaters? Same as marriage partners, corporate teams need to stick together for better or for worse. They need to share both hard work and relaxation sessions. Having fun with your employees breaks up the corporate routine and increases their engagement and creativity.
The company’s management should introduce various relaxing and fun activities that will enhance the employees’ sense of belonging. These can include everything, from team building excursions to ‘casual Fridays’ and ‘ugly sweater days’. If managers join in on these activities, they will contribute to the authenticity, transparency, and communication.
Engage from the Day One
One of the most important purposes of the recruiting process is to choose the candidates, who can easily fit into the company’s culture frame. After choosing the right candidate, managers should engage new employees from the day one. On the first day of work, employees should not fill in tons of paperwork and listen to boring PowerPoint presentations.
Managers should capitalize the momentum and engage employees by introducing them to their future colleagues and assigning them with a mentor. The mentor’s role is to help new employees to acclimate and to teach them how to adapt to the company’s culture and make a great first impression.
Work Flexibility
Digital technologies enabled us to cut our employees’ some slack and let them adjust their work schedules with other obligations they have. The digital- commuter concept enables employees to do their work from home on certain days and to set their own work hours at the office.
Statistically, employees who set their own hours are more productive and engaged. This concept also benefits the environment because employees use less gasoline and at the end of the day it helps entrepreneurs to cut down the cost of running a business.
Let Your Employees Set the Tempo
Attempts to improve the employees’ productivity and engagement should be coordinated by the employees themselves. Company management and the HR department need to conduct regular surveys that will help them to find the most efficient ways for approaching this matter.
Regular employee feedback will save you a lot of money that you will give for the consultants’ services, employee programs and seminars. Remember, kindness and compassion do not cost a thing and they are the most efficient tools for improving the employee engagement and productivity.
