For a company to be successful, managers need their employees to thrive and not just survive. Studies show that employees’ physical, cognitive, and emotional energies all improve in a thriving work environment. A recent report from the SHRM Foundation, in collaboration with Globoforce, titled “Creating a More Human Workplace Where Employees and Business Thrive” explains that caring workplaces produce employees who love their jobs and are more productive and engaged. This study found that organizations that put their employees first are more successful and create long-term value.
A 2012 study from Gallup analyzed 263 research studies covering 192 companies and found that the top 25 % of companies with highly-engaged employees outperformed the bottom 25 % in the following ways:
- 22 % greater profitability
- 21 % greater productivity
- 65 % lower turnover
- 37% reduced absenteeism
- 48 % fewer safety incidents
It is clear from these studies that managers need to find a way to help employees thrive and become more engaged, but how? What employee engagement strategies and tactics can you use to encourage participation and prevent top talent from packing up and going somewhere else?
Supportive Leadership Teams
A great starting point is to develop leadership teams that provide support employees throughout every level of the organization. Employees often benefit when managers provide clear instructions and transparent goals ensuring that each employee understands how their contribution drives company success.
In addition to clear expectations, coaching and feedback are critical to employee development. Gone are the days where it’s acceptable to review an employee’s performance on an annual basis. Employees want immediate feedback on their job performance. And they want more than just a pat on the back or a high five. They are looking for managers to tell them specifically where their performance is good and areas they need to improve. Even managers can struggle when discussing improvements with employees. But just like everything else, the more they practice an open policy, the more will everyone in the company be used to having open discussions about performance.
Consistent Communication
Effective communication is critical to any employee engagement strategy. Employees that are informed of relevant topics can give companies a competitive edge by increasing engagement levels and in turn, impact the bottom line. In order to enhance internal communication, organizations should focus on creating a consistent flow of information, and ensure each message is engaging.
Continuwell bridges communication gaps by providing companies with a communication platform which empowers employees with the information they need at their fingertips. In addition, providing employees with various channels to access organizational information immediately makes communications more engaging.
Some employees will prefer push notifications while others prefer to read the company blog or newsletter. Companies can also use videos and podcasts to engage employees. Regardless of the medium, when employees have the option to choose how they want to receive information it creates a sense of respect for the employee and enhances the level of engagement.
Opportunities for Meaningful Work
Employees will thrive when they are assigned job roles that match their core skill set. They are motivated and stay engaged by leveraging their knowledge and skills to accomplish job tasks. Ensuring that employee skills are matched to the right job roles is crucial in maintaining engagement.
An employee who is unable to use their skill set in their current role will rapidly become disengaged. In addition, each role within your company should have its core competencies and behavioral attributes defined. As you hire new employees, you’re able to check and balance their skills with the needed competencies for the role. Using a Predictive Index Consultant, such as Business Results, is a great way to hire the right people for the position and manage them more effectively in order to yield maximum results at minimum cost.
Inspiring Work Environment
All employees are looking for work/life balance. And employers can continue to provide this benefit by offering flexible work schedules. Employees enjoy flexible work opportunities, and the ability to work outside the office as an option.
Wellbeing programs continue to grow and are becoming a staple among benefits. Gym memberships and fitness classes are readily offered to help employees develop lifelong healthy habits. Other wellness options, such as stress management seminars, are provided to support employee wellbeing. As your company looks into different wellbeing programs, keep in mind that you want them to be easy to find and access.
Continuous Learning & Growth Opportunities
Employees continue to seek development opportunities within the workplace. Training and on the job support are great ways to enhance employee development. Corporate LMS training curriculum is expanding beyond competency based training and equipping employees with a variety of life skills. Communication, Team Work, and Leadership training can all be part of an employee’s learning path. Some companies also offer tuition reimbursement for employees that want to earn a degree.
Some of the key factors that can help employees thrive are creating a positive work environment with outstanding leadership teams, an effective internal communication strategy, the integration of creative benefits packages, and health and wellbeing options. Along with creative benefits and wellness programs, companies are also beginning to leverage mobile devices to keep their talent engaged and in the loop.
Contact Chrissie to discuss how Continuwell can help you to develop and deploy your wellbeing strategy to make sure that your employees are not just succeeding but thriving.
