Attaining high levels of employee engagement is the pipe dream of every HR manager and management team – and there’s a simple reason for it
Many organizational studies indicate that high employee engagement contributes to a whole suite of beneficial outcomes ranging from lower absenteeism rates and attrition rates, better customer outcomes, and most importantly of all, increased productivity and profitability.
That is why it is a top business priority in organizations worldwide. While low employee engagement represents a risk for the organization, in the long run, it can be converted into an opportunity for potential upside.
By identifying the relevant drivers of employee engagement for your organization, you will have the foundation to build a strong engagement strategy going forward.
What is Employee Engagement?
Not to be confused with employee satisfaction and employee happiness, employee engagement is associated with the commitment employees feel towards the business.
An engaged employee cares deeply about how they are contributing to the bigger picture, as well as the success of the company. They are driven by this commitment to deliver work that goes above and beyond what is expected of them.
Top 6 Drivers of Employee Engagement
Want to implement a strong and relevant engagement strategy to boost engagement levels? Then you should look into these 6 influencing factors.
A Sense of Direction and Purpose
Direction and purpose help to connect an employee to an organization at a deeper and more personal level.
In particular, young Gen Y employees these days are considerably more purpose-driven when choosing their careers. They are looking to work for organizations that have values and purpose that align with their values, so they can be part of a bigger movement.
As such, companies need to be clear about the reason they exist and be able to articulate this “why” – be it through their mission statement or brand story.
Having a cohesive direction and vision that everyone works towards is what will help the organization connect to its employees and attract like-minded prospective candidates.
Work Culture
Research studies show that employee engagement is higher whenever there are workplace friendships in the equation.
Good relationships with co-workers with whom employees enjoy socializing make the experience at work significantly more enjoyable, positively impacting their commitment to their job.
This is the reason why in today’s hybrid and remote work environments, it is still critical for organizations to maintain strong company culture through creative virtual activities and culture committees to foster this much-needed camaraderie.
Equality, Inclusiveness, & Safety
Apart from the basic foundations of a work environment where co-workers are treated respectfully and equally, a safe and inclusive work environment is important to ensure that everyone feels welcome in the workplace.
As employee engagement is tied inextricably with employees’ interactions with co-workers, being able to feel safe, included, and part of the team is key to boosting engagement levels.
Receiving Frequent Recognition
According to the Achiever’s Workforce Institute 2021 Engagement report, providing effective and frequent recognition is a critical engagement booster.
Based on the survey down, more than two-thirds of the respondents in the workforce feel that more recognition would help them improve their relationship with their co-workers and managers.
With proper structure for feedback and recognition on performance, employees can get a better understanding of what they are doing right through positive reinforcement. This helps them feel better about themselves, their work, and their contribution to the company – building their engagement levels.
Access To the Right Tools and Resources
Consider this: A frustrated employee who is struggling to do their job with limited tools and resources is not going to be a very satisfied nor engaged one over the long term.
This is why investing in technology and training is a normally overlooked but essential aspect of improving employee engagement.
By ensuring that the infrastructure and processes in place enable your employees to succeed in their roles, there will be less frustration and more motivation to get things done!
Learning and Development
The more that an employee feels that the organization is proactively investing in them, the higher the corresponding sense of loyalty and hence engagement. After all, no one wants to feel stuck in a dead-end job.
This is why a meaningful and structured learning and development program is essential to help elevate employee skills and provide professional career growth.
Ready for The Challenge of Improving Your Organization’s Employee Engagement Levels?
Understand the importance of building a strong employee engagement strategy for 2022 but can’t seem to find the time for it?
Well, there’s no excuse to procrastinate on such an important business priority when TG is here to help you with all other administrative HR matters!
With years of HR experience across 50 markets, you can rest assured that you will be in good hands.
