Recent research has shown that for many employees, attaining job satisfaction and better job engagement is all about feeling that their ideas are welcomed, and that they are being taken seriously.
If they can at least in part, influence the direction of their organisation, and have input that is genuinely valued, then this is a huge step towards an employee feeling engaged and empowered.
Engaged employees thrive when they bond with their colleagues – often spending regular social time with their co-workers outside of the workplace. Engaged employees are usually fairly easy to spot.
They may be the ones who are the last to leave at the end of the day – or simply those who are always around the office – whatever time of day it is.
Obviously this definition can also apply to those with too much work, or an impending deadline!
Yet, it is a proven fact that those employees who are emotionally committed to their organisation and its success, are usually the ones who make the biggest impact on the organisation’s bottom line.
But good employee engagement also has many other advantages – including better employee retention.
It makes sense that the more engaged an employee is, the less likely they are to leave or look for jobs elsewhere.
Of course, keeping your employees engaged and empowered can be quite a challenge in today’s volatile and ever-changing workplace.
A recent US study by Dale Carnegie Training and MSW Research discovered that out of 1,500 employees surveyed – up to 71 per cent of the workforce displayed some form of disengagement.
The exact figures from the study found:
- 29 per cent of employees were ‘Engaged’,
- 45 per cent were ‘Not engaged (or disengaged)’, and
- 26 per cent were ‘Actively disengaged’.
The study defined Engaged as: ‘Believing in the business – and wanting to improve their work and the work of those around them.’
Not engaged: ‘Exhibiting little passion for their job and seeing work as merely an exchange of time for a steady pay cheque.’
Actively disengaged: ‘Actively disliking their job and making that misery known wherever they went.’
Therefore, achieving good employee engagement is a vitally important part of having an effective and successful organisation.
One good way to monitor your employees’ job engagement levels is to conduct regular and thorough performance reviews, which set and track measurable employee goals.
Another is to engage your employees with self-reviews, rate job performance, and take an active interest in employee performance.
Finally, it is important to remember that looking after your body and mind can make it a lot easier to perform well in all areas of your life.
By taking steps to improve your employees’ wellness – through healthy eating and regular exercise, for example – companies have a much greater chance at achieving their goals.
However, it is important for managers and leaders to reinforce this message to employees in order for everyone to benefit.
By doing so you will not only motivate and encourage your employees to become more engaged – but also reap the benefits of a happier, healthier, more productive and stable workplace.