If you’re looking to improve performance and productivity within your organisation, then you may want to focus on boosting your employee engagement.
Your employee’s satisfaction within their job has a large impact on their performance at work and by creating a level of mutual respect between employer and staff, this can result in improved commitment and loyalty within the organisation and in turn a grown sense of enthusiasm for work .
Disengaged employees cost American businesses an average of $300 billion a year in productivity losses, as unhappy staff are unlikely to put their full effort into their work. They are also more likely to start looking for opportunities elsewhere, resulting in high recruitment costs and training of new staff.
However, this can be avoided by following these five elements to mastering employee engagement, courtesy of our friends at Bonusly and the benefits of an engaged workforce are endless.
1) Recognition:
By recognising your employees achievements, they will feel valued within the organisation and therefore feel driven to achieve the best for the company.
86% of employees are reportedly motivated by recognition and 65% say that they would work harder if they were better recognised, so it is important to build employee recognition within your company culture to achieve the best performance from staff. By acknowledging hard work from staff, you will also reinforce actions and behaviours you would like to see more of.
Employee recognition can be implemented in a number of ways, from praising good work directly in the moment, to written thank you notes and gifts.
When creating an employee recognition scheme it is important that all employees are treated equally, so that anyone who displays a certain behaviour will be commended for it in the same way. You also want to be sure that the recognition matches the effort and results displayed and show that you really mean it.
2) Rewards:
As well as recognising outstanding achievements from employees, you may also wish to reward them for their actions. These can include anything from a gift card or lunch out, to a bonus scheme in place for when professional targets are met or at the end of the year.
The most effective way to boost motivation and positive behaviour has been found to be with small, regular awards, that acknowledge achievements at the time that they occur. 81% of employees think that year-end bonuses are nice, but shouldn’t be expected; whereas smaller rewards for personal accomplishments throughout the year are better appreciated by staff, as they show that their employer is aware of their efforts.
3) Culture:
Building a positive company culture that employees feel happy and comfortable within, can be the key to maintaining engagement at work.
A combination of company values, systems, beliefs, habits and relationships are all contributing factors to the formation of a company culture and although building a strong company culture is easier said than done, there are a few things that a leader can do to help create a positive working environment; such as respecting your employees and including them in business decisions, allowing staff a level of freedom, appreciating hard work and making work enjoyable.
88% of employees want a collaborative, rather than competitive work culture, so a level of openness and exchanging of thoughts and ideas is a win win situation for both the employer and employee.
Relationships at work play a significant part in how happy people are at work and 70% of people state that their work friendships are the most crucial elements to a happy working life and peers can also motivate staff to go the extra mile at work.
4) Purpose:
Employees want to know that they have a purpose within the organisation and that they are making a valuable contribution. When searching for a job, a key factor that people look for in a role is the opportunity to make a difference
Millennial employees in particular are looking for this level of fulfilment from their jobs and 2/3 of graduating university students say that making a difference through their next job is a priority, even if it means taking a pay cut.
By showing your employees how their work positively affects the company, they will be more driven to achieve their best and remain engaged at work.
5) Autonomy:
Allowing employees a bit of freedom and control over their time can make them happier and more productive.
79% of employees value feeling empowered at work and by taking charge over their work schedules, or the way that they wish to complete their work, employees can see an increased job satisfaction.
Lots of organisations have been introducing flexible working hours and the option to work from home as a bid to introduce a level of autonomy within their companies and 74% of employees reportedly would like a flexible work schedule. This may work for individuals who work well independently and excel when taking responsibility for their own work; however others need a little extra direction, so it is important to make an informed decision about whether this would work within your organisation.
This being said, by allowing staff the freedom to make choices in the workplace and be accountable for their decision, it is likely that they will be happier and more productive.
