How to Increase Employee Engagement

“Take care of your employees and they will take care of your business.” This is often quoted by managers and team leaders. Employee engagement is pivotal in the success of any business. What are effective ways of increasing employee engagement? How can you ensure that your employees stay motivated and passionate about their jobs? Here are 8 effective ways on how to increase employee engagement.

Trust them

Often, this is easier said than done. You may tell your employees that you trust them and give them the impression that their ideas are welcome. However, your actions, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem to you, will speak volumes. Delegating tasks and empowering them to learn new ones will foster trust. On the other hand, micromanaging and second-guessing their work will stomp their career and personal growth.  Avoid sugar-coating and promote authenticity.

Value them

Employees who feel valued stay loyal and passionate at work. Singing praises is good but these should not be just empty praises. The generic “Good job!” seems so impersonal but saying “Good job for handling that difficult customer! I really admire your patience.” This comment needed a conscious effort and would surely resonate more with the employee.

Set aside time to talk to them

No matter how busy your calendar looks, set aside time to catch up with your employees to find out how they are doing. Block 15 to 30 minutes every week or two and sit down and chat with your employees. Make sure to keep your appointments and avoid cancelling them.

Be flexible

Life happens and when it does, work gets affected. It can be quite a hassle when your employee is unable to work because her daughter is sick for what seems to be multiple-occasions. Show support and flexibility by giving them the freedom to adjust their schedule or location to better suit their needs. Check if working from home is an option in the situation or whether having more flexible hours will resolve the situation. Your flexibility and understanding will truly be appreciated and as a result, your employees will be happier and more productive.

Promote work-life balance

Employees are often demotivated because they spend 50 to 60 hours a week at work. This leads to burnout which results in unproductivity. Encourage them to take a holiday at least two weeks in a year to promote work life balance and mental health will definitely increase employee engagement. Some companies include paid vacations in their compensation package so that their employees are forced to take a vacation. Also, it is important in the workplace, to remind your employees to take breaks every couple of hours, and to make sure employees are not staying too late at the office.

Volunteer at your local charitable organisation

Volunteering helps foster a sense of belonging in the team. Find out which charitable organisations your employees feel passionate about and take the time to volunteer at least once a year. Have follow up projects within the year such as fund-raisers or benefit concerts.

Collaborate

As the saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.” Identify opportunities for your employees to collaborate with your or their teammates. Having a sense of camaraderie to increase employee engagement and fosters a good work environment.

Promote honesty

When something goes wrong, take the lead in owning up to your mistakes instead of covering them up or blaming someone else. This promotes honesty and authenticity and your employees will exhibit the same quality. Mistakes are inevitable but what you do to correct those mistakes, matters more.

Most successful businessmen and businesswomen say that they owe the success of their company to the people who worked for them. These 8 ways to improve employee engagement may seem daunting at first. But once you have set the tone and fostered a great work culture, displaying these qualities will become second nature in your organisation.