Let’s Get Started: Laying the Foundation for a Great Employee Experience

“Employee experience has become a business imperative. It’s not something that companies can say they would ‘like to do better.’ To survive or thrive, it’s required.” - Experience, Inc.

In March, I shared the news that I wrote a book! Experience, Inc.: Why Companies That Uncover Purpose, Create Connection, and Celebrate Their People Will Triumph is the business leader’s guide to creating a winning employee experience for your organization and your people. And it’s on sale now! 

We can see from the headlines that work is changing — but how can leaders and managers use this as an opportunity to change work for good? In order to attract, retain, and engage talent in today’s highly-competitive job market and build a future-ready workforce, organizations must prioritize the employee experience.   

While many HR professionals, business executives, and thought leaders have covered in detail the why of employee experience, the how has not always been clear — which is why I hope you’ll find Experience, Inc. so valuable. But before we can dive into the how, it’s important to first establish what makes a great employee experience. From the extensive research I conducted for Experience, Inc., as well as my conversations with employees across the globe, I found that there are four things people today want more than anything at work:  

1. To find purpose in their work 
2. To have some agency over how, when, and where they work 
3. To feel a sense of belonging at work  
4. To be recognized for their contributions  

Seems fairly straightforward, right? But how can organizations actually bring these four pillars to life for their people? In Experience, Inc., I explain that it starts with a solid foundation, which includes these three elements:  

• Authentic Leadership: Managers are the culture carriers of their organizations. In fact, I often say that they’re more important than the C-suite because they have the most potential to shape their employees’ day-to-day experiences at work. Creating a better employee experience for your people begins with managers who not only help employees understand the mission and purpose of their company — but help them connect to it and find their own purpose within the company. We need managers who will allow their employees agency over their careers, help them feel a sense of belonging, and recognize their great contributions.  
• Humane Technology: A major theme in the book is the value of human connection. While technology has the power to greatly enhance the employee experience, we can’t forget the human element. In Experience, Inc., I argue that technology should strengthen human connection — not weaken it. Don’t be a ‘tech-first’ company; be a ‘people-first’ company.  
• A Focus on Health: One of the most important foundational elements of a great employee experience is employee health. People can’t give 100% to their work if they’re not prioritizing themselves. According to research, burnout and stress are at an all-time high. The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of employees is critical for both their present and future — and your organization’s. Companies that don’t actively address the dangers of burnout will struggle to retain their top talent.  

This is just a taste of what you can look forward to in Experience, Inc. — there’s so much more information inside that can help you make a great employee experience for your people a reality. And with this article, I hope you can see that the strategies in this book are ones that you can start implementing today. Learn more about Experience, Inc. and order your copy!