As a business owner or entrepreneur, you probably already know that happy employees are productive employees. But you might not know there’s more to employee engagement than just keeping your team members happy. Here’s what you need to know about employee engagement.
What is Employee Engagement?
Employee engagement is when employees work together to reach common goals. Success requires that every employee be connected with the organization’s mission and feel supported by management. Engaged employees perform better than regular employees who can do their tasks more efficiently.
You may wonder why employee engagement is critical as a business owner or manager. After all, as long as employees are showing up and doing their job, what more could you ask for? However, engagement goes beyond just attendance and job performance. When employees are engaged, they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work, which leads to higher productivity levels and a reduction in turnover. In short, engaged employees are likelier to stick around and do great work. Here are a few more reasons why employee engagement is essential to the success of your business
Improved Productivity
Productivity is not just about working hard; it’s also about working smart. Engaged employees take the time to understand their job responsibilities and how their work fits into the bigger picture. They’re constantly looking for ways to improve their performance as well as the implementation of those around them. As a result, businesses with engaged employees tend to be more productive overall. Additionally, it’s been found that engaged employees can outperform their competitors by as much as 202% .
Reduces Employee Turnover
It costs money to train new employees. It’s estimated that turnover is a trillion-dollar problem in the United States , so it’s in your best interest to keep the ones you have. Engaged employees feel valued and appreciated by their employers and are less likely to look for new opportunities elsewhere. Engagement is one of the critical predictors of employee retention. So if you want to hold onto your best talent, ensure you do everything you can to keep them engaged.
Improved Customer Satisfaction
Engaged employees are not only more productive; they’re also more likely to provide excellent customer service. Customers with a positive experience with your company will likely return and recommend your business to others. On the other hand, unhappy customers will take their business elsewhere and leave negative reviews that can damage your reputation. Therefore, ensuring that your employees provide the best possible experience for your customers is essential.
Engaged employees are essential to the success of any business. So if you want to create a thriving business, ensure you’re doing everything possible to engage your employees. Here are four tips you can do that.
Lunch Outs
One of the simplest ways to engage employees is to organize lunch outs or happy hours. This allows your team to connect personally and helps build relationships that can increase collaboration and communication in the workplace. Search for a local lunch restaurant near your office, and set out occasional lunch outs with your employees. During these lunch outs, ensure that you get to know your employees and make them feel valued.
Mentorship Programs
Another great way to engage your employees is by creating mentorship programs. Pairing senior-level employees with junior-level employees allow them to learn from each other and grow professionally. Mentorship programs also allow employees at all company levels to gain insights into how different departments work, making it easier for everyone to collaborate more effectively.
Gamification
Implementing gamification in the workplace is becoming increasingly popular among business owners. Essentially, gamification involves turning your workplace into a game by incorporating gaming elements into the tasks you need your employees to do.
For example, if you want your accounting team to go through your organization’s financial records quickly, give them incentives like prizes or time off when they complete their tasks faster than their peers or within a specific time frame. Not only is this fun and motivating for employees, but it can also help lighten their workload.
Flexible Schedules
Finally, one of the best ways to engage your employees is by offering flexible work schedules. While traditional office hours are still crucial for most businesses, allowing employees to set their schedules can make them feel more valued and trusted by their employers. This could be as simple as letting team members come in earlier or stay later on certain days if they need to hit a deadline quickly.
Implementing these tips will help you engage your employees and improve their performance. This can then lead your business to greater success in the long run. In addition, it’s a great way to give your team members the motivation they need to be successful.
