It’s no secret that employee engagement is key to a successful business. Fulfilled employees are more productive and creative, and they’re also more likely to stick around.
As a business owner, how can you ensure your employees are engaged and enjoying time at your company? There’s no such thing as a perfect formula for creating engagement — an engaged workforce changes and evolves with each company.
However, there are certain best practices that you can apply at your company to improve employee engagement. Here are some implementations that your employees will thank you to.
Offer Rewards and Recognition
Employees are quick to tell you what they don’t want. But if you ask them what they want, it’s typically recognition, respect, and appreciation. When your employees feel that their employers value their work, the better they’ll respond. People like feeling that they’re part of something meaningful and impactful — so give them that feeling.
Don’t sweat it if your company doesn’t have a lot of money to spend on lavish rewards. There are plenty of ways to recognize employees without spending money. Start by publicly recognizing them for their accomplishments. Thank an employee who completed a big project before the entire team or gives out awards during department meetings or team lunches.
You can also recognize employees by giving them time off or flexible work schedules, letting them attend conferences and conventions, and getting their opinions heard. If your business doesn’t have a lot of resources to do these things, talk to your employees about what would make the most significant impact on their day-to-day work lives and go from there.
Create a Workplace That is Fun and Engaging
Let’s not forget that work should be fun, too. Your employees’ happiness at the office goes a long way in keeping them engaged with their jobs. Implement workplace policies and procedures that make your employees happy. It can include casual work attire and allowing employees to bring their pets or kids to work one day a week.
It would be best if you also took the time to get to know your employees personally. You never know what you might learn about them outside of the job. Taking an interest in your people shows them that you care about more than just their paychecks.
Nurture a Workplace Culture of Continuous Improvement
If your employees feel like they’re going in circles, it will be difficult for them to get excited about anything at work. Nurture a company culture of continuous improvement by encouraging employees to suggest changes, new policies, and procedures. Promise that you’ll review — and implement — their recommendations if they help your company grow and improve.
Your employees also want to know how their work affects the bottom line. Tell them! When they see how what they do each day impacts the company’s success, it will move their level of engagement for sure.
Offering competitive pay is another way to encourage continuous improvement. If one of your employees learns that somebody in the office with the same job title is getting paid more, they’re going to feel undervalued and disengaged. You should also provide regular performance reviews and hikes in salary when it makes sense.
Provide Support to Ensure Success
Encourage and foster a culture of support throughout your organization. When you support your employees during the tough times, they’ll know you have their backs, which will make them more engaged in their work.
Offering loan processing solutions is a great way to show your employees that you care about helping them achieve their goals — especially in times of financial troubles.
But your employees want more than to know that you’re there for them in times of crisis. They also want to ask questions and seek advice about the job without feeling like they’re bothering you or holding up workflow. Implement a mentorship program so your senior staff can help new hires learn the ropes.
Provide Opportunities for Continued Education and Training
Many employees want to learn about new technologies, software, or industry standards that they don’t already know about. If your company doesn’t have a budget for training programs, consider hiring a trainer on a contractual basis. Contractors are less expensive than paying somebody’s full salary while they’re away from work, and they’re still capable of providing your team with the education and training it needs.
So, there you have it! Some tips on how to keep your employees engaged and motivated. Follow these best practices, and you’re sure to see a boost in productivity and decrease employee turnover.
