Keeping employees engaged and excited about their jobs

07 Jan Keeping employees engaged and excited about their jobs

Whether an organization has one employee or 10,000, a fundamental question always exists: how do you ensure that employees are engaged and excited about their jobs? How do you develop an environment in which employees are enthusiastic about the function that they perform for the organization, take positive actions with the company’s best interest in mind, and immerse themselves in the core values of the organization? It seems like a daunting task, doesn’t it? It does not have to be!
Employee engagement has been a topic of discussion among executives and human resource managers
around the world. According to a Gallup poll, 85% of the world’s employees are disengaged in their
current work environment 1 . In other words, only 15% of employees globally feel satisfied and fulfilled in
their jobs. This astonishingly low number can have a dramatic impact on an organization’s productivity,
efficiency and ultimately, profitability.
This same Gallup poll also finds that those companies that actively promote employee engagement,
show a 21% increase in profitability over those who do not. Now that is a number that we can sink our
teeth into. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, many employees view their job or career as simply a
paycheck. They do not feel that the company or its management has any concern for their well-being or
happiness, or takes any interest in them as people, and therefore, believe that it is unnecessary to make
any effort for the company.
So, why is employee engagement important for your company? Aside from the obvious possibility of
increased revenue, engaged employees have a positive attitude towards the company, products and
services, and see a bright future with the organization. They take pride in what they do and are
committed to seeing the company succeed. This positive attitude and outlook create new ideas, shared
insight, improved customer service, and an environment that is cohesive and in fact, contagious. Loyal,
dedicated employees who feel fulfilled give off an essence that others want to feel as well.
If employee engagement is so important for the culture and success of an organization, how do you
ensure that your employees are engaged and excited about their jobs? Let’s look at 5 simple things that
a company’s management team can do to engage employees.

1. Employee engagement begins with leadership. Trust is empowering. If employees believe that leadership is trustworthy and has their best interests at heart, they are more likely to “want” to work there and to be committed to achieving success. The energy and values of the organization flow from the top down.
2. Employee engagement is about being accepted as a contributing member of the team. While
   each and every person may have a unique goal and varying responsibilities, employees thrive on
   knowing that their contribution makes a difference. When possible, encourage employees to
   voice their opinions, to have a say in the direction of the company, and to participate in decision
   making at some level. Although the size of the organization plays a role in the types of decisions
   that they can participate in, every employee plays a vital role within their own department or
   workgroup.
3. Generally, people want to do good work. They want to commit themselves to something that
   they share an interest in or believe is meaningful work. Share the mission and vision of the
   organization so that employees can see the big picture and understand where it is going.
4. As human beings, we all operate more efficiently when we know what is expected of us and
   have appropriate goals in mind. When employees do not have a clear understanding of what is
   expected of them, they are more likely to function each day like the last, on auto-pilot.
   However, when employees know what is expected of them, through a clearly defined set of
   goals and values, they have something to reach for and work towards, making each day unique,
   interesting and engaging.
5. Employees want to use their strengths at work. Focus on what an employee can offer to an
   organization, how they can contribute. Regular reviews can help managers to identify what it is
   that a person truly enjoys and to understand how those strengths can be utilized in their day to
   day activities. Although weaknesses should not be overlooked, by focusing on an employee’s
   strengths, management will ensure that an employee is more focused on the task at hand and is
   excited to get up in the morning to come to work.
   To ensure that your employees are engaged, excited and ready to help your business to grow, it is time
   to take action today! Sign up for our email list to receive regular, helpful tips to engage your employees
   and to help establish an environment that will lead to productivity, efficiency and ultimately
   profitability!
   Sign up TODAY to help motivate your employees and drive change.