Has employee engagement taken a hit in your office? You’re not alone. Only 32 percent of employees reported feeling engaged in 2022. But don’t panic — every organization is susceptible to changes in their team’s engagement levels, which is usually a result of a shift in their company culture. Plus, there are ways to learn how to improve employee engagement.
Improving employee engagement requires buy-in from your entire leadership team, and a successful engagement strategy warrants thoughtful planning. Don’t let that deter you; highly engaged employees will boost your organization’s profitability and productivity and even reduce employee turnover.
In this article, we’ll explore 16 employee engagement strategies that you can implement as quick fixes and long-term tactics to boost employee engagement.
What Is Employee Engagement?
Employee engagement is the degree to which employees are motivated by, passionate about, and invested in their work. Engagement also indicates the individual’s commitment to the company and their emotional connection to the people with whom they work.
High employee engagement levels are often key to a company’s productivity. If employees feel neglected or don’t think their company cares about its people, they may lose the drive to complete tasks and meet goals. Successful businesses support their employees with many benefits and activities, ranging from company outings to flexible work situations.
It’s also important to note that many factors influence employee engagement, including location, company culture, and individual characteristics. These factors are variable and prone to fluctuate over time, which is why measuring employee engagement is crucial to staying up to date with your staff’s needs.
How to Improve Employee Engagement: 16 Ways
If you’ve noticed a change in your team’s engagement or are just getting acquainted with how to improve employee engagement, there are steps you can take to quickly make a positive impact in your office. We’ve put together a list of strategies to improve employee engagement in your workplace.
1. Model Your Company Values and Mission
Employees are more engaged when there are company goals they can get behind and a purpose to inspire them. Start by creating a mission statement and a concise list of company values, then train each employee in these values. Doing so will guarantee employees understand the importance of the company’s values, how they positively impact the business, and what’s expected of each individual. Lead by example and hold every member of your team accountable. Failing to do so will foster a culture of distrust that will disengage employees.
2. Prioritize Feedback
Employees rate giving feedback as one of the most important skills a manager can have, right behind communication. Employees crave feedback, and it influences their level of engagement. Start by scheduling check-ins for each employee with their manager, then encourage middle management to establish regular review sessions with their team as an ongoing initiative to improve employee engagement.
While it may be tempting to implement a company-wide schedule for feedback, keep in mind that every team is different and frequent touchpoints may feel unnatural to some. Managers should talk to their direct reports about their preferred methods for receiving feedback to engage employees in a way that’s meaningful to them.
3. Concentrate on Engaging Management
Manager engagement has ripple effects on the rest of their team. Let’s take a look at some stats: in the U.S., only 34 percent of employees were engaged at work in 2021, and engagement decreased by 7 percent among managers. Employees report that 75 percent of great managers are passionate about the work they do — that kind of positive attitude is contagious. While your workforce engagement strategy should account for the individual needs of every employee, focusing on middle management is an effective way to improve employee engagement across the board.
4. Coordinate Volunteer Opportunities
Employees want to know they work for a company that cares about making a positive contribution to society. Volunteering unites employees toward a larger purpose, offering an opportunity to connect on a deeper level. Indeed, 70 percent of employees believe volunteer events improve morale more than happy hours, and 89 percent believe companies that sponsor charitable activities have a better work environment.
Look for a volunteer opportunity that’s located near your office and plan an event for after work. This is an easy way to create team-building activities and give back to your community. Additionally, offer a “Volunteer Day” as an employee benefit. This should be a day outside of your PTO policy that employees can take off to donate their time to a cause they’re passionate about.
5. Prioritize Physical and Mental Health
It’s easy for individuals to engage with their work when the organization makes an effort to enhance their overall well-being. A company-wide wellness initiative is a great way to improve employee engagement. Sponsor workout classes as company outings and consider offering fitness subsidies to encourage healthy lifestyles beyond the office.
Offer meditation classes and encourage employees to take mental health days when they need to step away from the office and focus on themselves. Additionally, stock the kitchen with healthy snacks that will fuel employees during the busy workday.
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