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7 Ways to Increase Employee Engagement for Your Best Workers

By Austen Lee

February 1 2018 - In the HR world, we're constantly hearing about employee engagement, for good reason. Workers who are more engaged at work tend to be more calm, confident, positive, inspiring and motivated. Their enthusiasm and commitment also tends to rub off on others around them, boosting teamwork, collaboration and overall success. They usually achieve better results than most, making them the best employees an organization could ask for.

But how can you boost engagement for great employees? Here are 7 ways to keep employees engaged:

1. Communicate with Them Clearly - Everyone wants to know what is expected of them at the workplace, how well they are meeting these expectations, and what role they play in the organization's success. Good communication on these fronts can play a major role in employee motivation and productivity, so make this a priority.

Communication problems are generally the most common complaint in an unhappy workforce, so focus on clear, honest and frequent communication with your employees. Share your expectations with staff members regularly, and make sure you define your company's values, vision and performance with them.

2. Support Their Career Goals - Your best employees are also likely to be the most ambitious members of your workforce, with clear career growth objectives. Providing opportunities for professional advancement shows that you care about their goals and offers them new challenges, which increases employee motivation and engagement.

Many organizations think that career training and skill building programs will only lead to higher attrition, but that isn't always the case. Investing in an employee's growth is always worthwhile, since even those who leave will tell other people about how supportive you are. This helps your reputation and attracts more talent!

3. Gather Their Feedback & Inputs - Instead of assuming there's no room for improvement or that you know where changes are needed, ask your staff to provide ideas, suggestions and feedback about the organization. Of course, you also need to implement good ideas and suggestions, not just gather them.

In the process of collecting data through meetings or surveys, you may find some surprising insights. Latent talents and behavioral traits could be revealed at this stage, such as an IT person with innovative marketing ideas. People like to believe their opinion matters, and your employees will appreciate being asked for input.

4. Give Them What They Need - If you want people to perform effectively, you have to give them the right tools for the job. Create the opportunity for better employee engagement by asking each one if there's anything that can help their productivity. Make sure you also provide them with the solutions they need.

This could include anything from new software or equipment to refresher training programs and workplace education. Worker needs can also change with time, just like customer needs, so don't think of this as a one-time activity. It's something you should repeat on a frequent basis.

5. Reward Their Achievements - Recognition and appreciation for a job well done is among the top drivers for good workers, sometimes more than financial employee incentives. The reason for this is simple enough - as humans, we crave a pat on the back every time we achieve something meaningful, and your employees are no different.

Along with celebrating accomplishments, it's also a good idea to provide recognition for someone who makes a special effort towards reaching a long-term goal. Remember, rewards and recognition are most effective as an engagement tool when they are appropriate, authentic and well-timed.

6. Create the Right Company Culture - A fun, supportive and inclusive work environment is a dream come true for most employees, especially those who want to find a good long-term match. HR plays a huge role in this regard, so make sure your team does everything it can to create and maintain a culture where workers are happy.

Creating a great company culture is not as difficult as it may sound, but just takes some time and effort. Put employee needs and development first, since this helps people feel more supported, involved and valued within the organization, boosting engagement as well as job satisfaction.

7. Offer Personalized Training Programs - Good employees are driven, goal-oriented and committed to their career growth. If you can provide them with the opportunities and tools to help them reach where they want to be, they will be more likely to feel valued and motivated. Understand what they need and give it to them.

Personalized training programs are the ideal way to show staff members that you care about their work and career goals, as well as their interests and skills. Not only does this lead to employee benefits for the individual, but also for your company. After all, developing their skills will help them do their work better!


About the author
Austen Lee

Austen Lee believes that the key to corporate wellness is identifying talented individuals and harnessing their efforts by understanding what motivates them. As the digital marketing head of Rewardz, Malaysia he has taken it upon himself to inspire employers to achieve employee engagement by nurturing talent with rewards.
Email: austen@rewardz.my


 
 




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