Ways to Build A Culture of Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is the key to improving the work environment and increasing productivity. Employees who are engaged invest more of their energy into their jobs and strive continuously to improve. A corporate culture that fosters employee engagement will improve morale in the workplace and increase employee satisfaction and happiness. A recent study found that companies with high employee engagement have 18% higher retention rates and are 22% more profitable.

How to Build a Culture of Employee Engagement 

1.     Create a well-defined company vision

Every organization requires a well-defined company vision that is communicated to all employees. This gives employees a clear picture of the work the organization does as well as the role that they play towards achieving this vision. When communicating the company vision, it is important to also share core values and what behaviors are encouraged (and which ones are discouraged). This will help employees become emotionally invested in their work and the company vision and foster a culture of engaged employees.

2.     Provide adequate training

Employees that are unable to handle their responsibilities quickly start to feel frustrated and overwhelmed, which leads to disengagement. Provide onboarding and training programs to help employees learn to effectively manage their roles and responsibilities. Nearly 90% of employees decided whether to stay or leave a company within the first six months which means that this is a crucial period. During this time, new hires also bond with co-workers and start to voice their opinions, share their ideas and become more engaged.

3.     Communicate Consistently and Constantly

Good communication is the key to fostering a culture of engaged employees. Employees who are informed about the company’s financial status, corporate goals that have been accomplished and how their contributions are affecting corporate objectives are more likely to take an interest in what is going on within the organization.  Create an open employee communication in order to encourage employees to share their experiences and grow in confidence. This also helps to strengthen core values such as transparency and authenticity and improves the overall work culture.

4.     Focus on First-level Supervisors

According to a Gallup report, only 30% of US employees are engaged at work and managers accounted for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores. First-level supervisors play an important role in any company as they work to balance the needs of management with the needs of the employees. Employees often leave organizations due to their direct supervisor.  First-level supervisors have a difficult and demanding job which is why it is important to provide them with regular training on conflict resolution and the upkeep of company morale.

5.     Encourage employee development

Employees don’t want to stagnate in their job and yearn for opportunities to develop and grow. Job requirements often change as the company grows and technology progresses. This allows companies to encourage employee development by giving them the chance to learn more and take on new projects. Performance appraisals also help to identify key areas that an employee can work on in order to improve their skillset. Employees who have access to training resources and classes are more likely to stay engaged and grow within the organization.

6.     Actively solicit employee feedback

Feedback plays a crucial role in employee engagement as it allows employees to share their insights and concerns with the company. Solicit feedback on a regular basis to collect and assess data that can be used to make improvements. This is an important step as it shows employees that the company is invested in them. In cases where employee feedback cannot be utilized by the company, the reasons should be communicated with the employees.

7.     Involve all levels of the organization in procedural changes

Involve employees in discussions regarding upcoming changes in procedures and processes that will impact their work. This gives the company a chance to explain why the changes are being implemented and give employees the chance to voice their opinions on the proposed changes. Involving all levels of the organization helps every employee understand that their opinions matter. This increases employee engagement and improves trust and support.

8.     Adopt a progressive leave policy

The US is the only developed nation that does not guarantee paid sick leave, paternity leave or even maternity leave. While policymakers have been slow to act on this, many companies are now adopting progressive leave policies in order to support their employees in times of difficulty or change. According to the experts at What To Expect, paid leave policies don’t only benefit employees, they are also profitable to companies.

Some companies try to mimic the culture of corporate giants like Google and Netflix that are known for their desirable work environments. However, their models are unlikely to work for companies with smaller budgets or in different industries. The best approach to creating a company culture that promotes employee engagement is to craft one that is based on the company’s unique goals and values.

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