Improving Employee Engagement

Where do you start?

The first step to engage your employees begins with onboarding. Onboarding a new employee should involve a mentor, so they have a reference person to facilitate their arrival, share important information, and introduce them to fellow colleagues and potential new friends.

A Globoforce report shows that among employees without friends, only 28% are engaged. This percentage triples for employees who have over 25 friends at work. (Mood tracker report, 2014)

Management should show a sincere interest in employees’ well-being. Managers should initiate team lunches, team building activities, and invest in the physical workspace. A poor office environment can repel collaborators and develop negative attitudes.

Flexibility is a priority for the up-and-coming workforce generation. As such, it’s important to allow employees  time off for personal activities and development.

In addition, investing in your employees’ happiness contributes to their engagement and performance.

A happy employee should be 12% more productive (University of Warwick, 2014), thanks to positive emotions that reduce stress and support success.

Improving Employee Engagement

Building a healthy work environment doesn’t stop with the perks you provide your employees. The organization should aim to create a stimulating environment that energizes employees and promotes a positive and supportive corporate culture.

Although it takes significant time and investment to improve company culture, there are several ways to begin initiating change:

01. Develop an Internal Brand

Employees are the heartbeat of any business. From speaking with customers in the field, to sharing personal experiences with potential new hires, engaged employees are necessary for achieving success. Long-term disengagement within an organization can lead to negative and severe impact on company growth.