In order to retain employees and drive a company towards growth and success, it is vital that businesses hold employee engagement to a high standard. Research shows that only 15 percent of American employees are actively engaged in their work, and roughly $550 billion is lost every year due to disengagement and lack of productivity. Below are five ways businesses can improve employee engagement.
Be transparent
It is important that business leaders are transparent with their employees so that a foundation of trust is built. When leaders are open and honest about the business, it lets employees feel like they are truly an important component of the team. It also allows them to see the company’s ethical standards and helps build morale.
Set and clarify expectations
Expectations should be set during onboarding – and in many cases, during interviews to ensure future employees have a clear understanding of their role. Without reviewing expectations and a development trajectory, employees may question their purpose at a company. It is also crucial that leaders schedule regular check-ins to provide regular feedback and goal setting.
Hire personality traits
While experience and education are both important qualifiers for hiring new talent, managers and human resource professionals should also consider hiring based on personality traits and behavior. No matter how skilled a person is in their industry, a poor attitude could be a huge detriment to the team.
Organize volunteer or offsite outings
It is equally important to spend time together outside of work as it is to support one another in the office. Coordinating volunteer events is a great way to support local communities or causes that are meaningful to employees. Whether it be a volunteer event or an outing, getting together outside of the workplace is a great way to drive collaboration and engagement.
Ask for feedback
Regular feedback allows employers to understand the happiness, satisfaction, and overall engagement levels of employees. It also demonstrates that leaders are willing to change or implement new tactics and procedures to better the workplace environment. All successful managers take the time to have conversations with their team members to discuss engagement and areas of improvement.