Improved employee engagement can help an organisation both internally and externally.
Internally, you could see an increase in productivity, length of service and innovation through lived values, an invigorated sense of purpose and better employee wellbeing. There could also be significant changes in an external context, such as a gear shift in perception of your employer brand. And with Gen Z being more likely to check out your social media content (and that of your employees) in their job search, this could impact recruitment and progression especially in this cohort of the workforce.
To improve employee engagement though, you first need to measure it which can be difficult but we have also outlined some key guidance on this here.
Here are some effective ways to improve employee engagement:
Enhance employee communication
It may sound obvious, but regular and consistent communication is crucial for maintaining and improving employee engagement. Trust is vital for your people to feel included and involved.
Make sure you utilise multiple channels to keep employees involved and make sure you’re transparent in internal communications and updates.
Personalised engagement strategies
Different employees or employee groups may be motivated by different factors, so having an engagement strategy that is personalised for different audience members is key.
You can tailor messaging and channels for different groups and allow flexibility for employees to engage in ways that suit them.
Foster a feedback culture
Using communications that look to engage is not enough.
Look to build in a feedback loop that is easily accessible and varied to hear from your people. Regular feedback helps employees feel heard and showing that the feedback is visibly acted on will show your people that their input is valuable.
Reinforce company values
Employees are more likely to be engaged if they feel connected to your values and purpose and mission.
You might already have your values socialised, but it might be worth exploring how well these are understood and modelled by your people and that your organisation’s goals and strategy are aligned with your values.
Employee benefits, recognition and rewards
It is important that you recognise employee efforts and achievements, in particular those that align with your values and purpose.
This often increases engagement by those that are recognised as well as those that are connected to them within the organisation.
Implementing (or reminding your people of) a recognition and rewards initiative that highlights top performers or outstanding contributions can be successful in boosting engagement.
Provide growth opportunities
Engaged employees often seek opportunities for development.
So to keep hold of these people, there should be an offer of learning and development opportunities that will aid their progression and clear career progression paths within the organisation.
Prioritise workplace wellbeing
Supporting the wellbeing, physical and mental health of your people can significantly boost engagement. A happy employee is an engaged employee.
As well as traditional offers of wellness programs, fitness subsidies and the provision of resources for stress management, a tailored approach for your people is more likely to succeed.
Increased employee engagement
By implementing these improvement strategies, organisations can create a more engaged, productive, and satisfied workforce. Remember, employee engagement is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and adaptation to evolving workplace dynamics.
If you’d like to learn more about how we help companies improve their employee engagement then get in touch here and our team of specialists will help guide you towards the best solution for you.
