8 Tips to Improve Employee Engagement and Increase Business Success

Employee engagement is a hot topic in the business world today. It is a term used to describe the level of an employee's involvement, enthusiasm, and commitment to their work and workplace.

When employees are engaged, they are more likely to be motivated, productive, and loyal to their employer, since they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work and are passionate about their company's goals and objectives.

A recent study by Gallup showed that only 34% of employees worldwide are engaged in their work. That means that 66% of employees are either not engaged or actively disengaged, which could cost companies billions of dollars every year. 

On the other hand, companies that have highly engaged employees outperform their competition in terms of productivity, innovation, and even employee retention. So what can you do to increase employee engagement within your own company? 

Here are some ways to improve employee engagement in your workplace:

1. Listen to your employees

92% of highly engaged employees are 3x more likely to say they feel heard at their workplace than highly disengaged employees (around 30%). Considering your employees' opinions and listening to their suggestions before making a decision will show them that they are part of a team. Even if the final say comes from the upper management, valuing what your employees have to say will give them a sense of contribution to the company. 

2. Create a welcoming atmosphere

Although employee recognition might not seem like a top priority compared to other aspects of the employee experience, 63% of employees who are recognized are unlikely to look for a new job. Managers who empower their employees by applauding their contributions are more likely to have happy, engaged staff. 

It's important to consider encouraging open communication between employees and managers as well. When employees are given the freedom and support to ask questions or concerns, they can approach managers with ideas without fear of being retaliated against for what they think might be a good idea! 

Helping your employees succeed is one of the best ways to show you care about them. Make sure they know that if there are any issues, failures, or successes in particular- you will be right by their side every step. This trust among team members leads not only to increased productivity but also happier staff members who enjoy coming to work every day!

3. Encourage flexibility

Flexibility in the workplace can be a powerful thing. Employees who have been given flexibility outside of their rigid eight-to-five office hours perform 13% better than those with rigid work schedules, or locations that don't suit them.

4. Use Small Incentives

Another way to engage employees is to recognize their accomplishments, both big and small. Make sure they know that their success is something worth celebrating! A simple “thank you” can go a long way in making an employee feel appreciated. You could also consider giving out an employee of the month award, or other types of recognition.

5. Provide opportunities for employee development

Employees who feel like they’re constantly learning and developing new skills are more likely to be engaged in their work. Offer employees opportunities to attend training courses, workshops, or seminars. You could also encourage employees to pursue further education by offering tuition reimbursement.

6. Encourage employee wellness

64% of companies are now providing their staff with new well-being offerings to support work-life balance. This has been shown in a recent survey by Gartner which found that more than one-quarter of the workforce (29%) described itself as depressed.

Improving employee engagement requires a sustainable shift in culture towards a more people-oriented approach.  You can offer employees incentives to participate in healthy activities like exercise or eating healthy foods. You could also provide access to on-site fitness facilities or subsidized gym memberships.

Encouraging short breaks for employees is also a great idea to help your employees relax and recharge while they work on tough tasks. When employees realize that their bosses care about their mental and physical health they are more inspired to work hard and contribute to the team.

7. Give their work a meaning

Employees value salary, benefits, and company leadership, but meaningful work drives job satisfaction more than ever. 9 out of 10 career professionals told researchers that they would sacrifice 23 percent of their future earnings—an average of $21,000 a year—for "work that is always meaningful." 

A company's commitment to creating meaningful workplaces can help improve employee engagement levels by linking daily tasks with a grander goal - something which many young people appreciate because they want to know that their efforts are going towards improving society as well. This can be achieved by having leaders who emphasize corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and diversity.

8. Make sure employee workloads are manageable

One of the main reasons employees become disengaged at work is because they feel overwhelmed by their workload. Make sure employees have realistic expectations for what they can accomplish in a day, and give them the resources they need to complete their tasks.

You can also help them by incorporating business automation software that takes care of their routine administrative tasks so they can focus on the more important aspects of their work.

In the end, it is about creating lasting relationships

A manager who engages with workers on a business’s objectives, and who has the ability to give employees a clear sense of organizational direction, is part of what creates a healthy business and successful work environment. As Anne Mulcahy says:

“Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.”

— Anne M. Mulcahy, Former CEO of Xerox Corporation

By following these tips, you can create a more engaged workforce that increases productivity and business success. What other employee engagement tips do you have? Share them in the comments below!

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