Work Culture: Developing and Sustaining Employee Engagement

A staggeringly low 34% of Americans in the workforce feel engaged at their jobs. 

Too many of us relate to the feelings of sitting at our desks, watching the clock while wishing we were on our way home. Every single day. It starts to feel like we're stuck in a Groundhog Day type of loop.

Are you in charge of a team of employees? Don't let them feel unappreciated or disinterested in their work. Improve the work culture of your company. 

Below is a guide to employee engagement. We'll go over what it is, why it's important, and how to improve it. 

What Is Employee Engagement?

First, it's important to highlight that employee engagement is not the equivalent of employee happiness. Employee engagement is the commitment an employee has to the company and its goals. 

When an employee is engaged, they're willing to put in the effort to push the business forward. They're tracking their personal goals, collaborating with coworkers, and doing their part to foster good work culture. 

Yes, a paycheck is important. How else are we expected to pay our bills and fill our cars with gas? But an engaged employee isn't just in it for the paycheck. 

They're engaged because they believe in the company and its mission. They're aligned with the company's values. 

Why Is It Important?

There's a large list of reasons why employee engagement is crucial, but we'll just touch on a few of the main points. 

Employee engagement produces high-quality results. Employees who are diligent and engaged are dedicated to double-checking their work and focusing on important details. You won't catch them slacking!

High-quality work from your employees boosts the reputation of the business. Clients are better able to trust your company and fewer mistakes need to be fixed.

Engaging your employees also cuts down on employee turnover. The processes of hiring and training employees place a lot of stress on management, so keeping around the experienced professionals is a must. 

And while employee satisfaction doesn't equate to happy employees, there's a good chance engaged employees will find a tad more joy in the workplace than those who aren't engaged. 

How to Keep Employees Engaged 

There are multiple techniques in learning how to keep employees engaged. Remember, keep yourself and your leadership team accountable in boosting engagement. 

Engagement is an ongoing process and should be extended to every employee, despite rank or time in the company. 

Give Feedback

A major key to boosting employee engagement is providing feedback for individual employees and teams. 

Dedicating time to observing your staff members not only helps the company as a whole but also shows your employees that you care about their individual roles. 

Feedback aids an employee in:

• Growing their skillset
• Defining goals
• Highlighting areas of improvement 
• Emphasizing personal strengths

Setting aside time to give feedback is also a great time to extend gratitude and praise for your employees. Let them know you've seen how hard they work and thank them for their dedication. 

Promote Growth

When learning how to sustain employee engagement, keep in mind that management plays a major role in the professional and personal growth of their employees. 

Build and maintain engagement by creating opportunities for your staff members to improve their work-related skills, mental wellbeing, and physical health. Employee engagement is best maintained when approached from a holistic perspective. 

Chat with local gyms about offering discounts or free classes for your employees. Regular exercise boosts energy and productivity!

Share tips about mental health. Encourage your employees to use their insurance to schedule a therapy session. Chat with your management team about mental health days. 

Bring in trained individuals and professional speakers to teach your staff about leadership skills, communication, budgeting, etc. Your business and employees will be thankful. 

Take Concerns Seriously

If you want to foster a good work culture, listen and take action when employees speak their concerns. Being a boss isn't always glamorous. You must do the gritty work sometimes. 

Are employees complaining about a team member? Evaluate the team member's efforts. Address any negative attitudes and disrespect dragging the rest of the team down. 

Have you heard complaints about one of your managers acting in an unprofessional manner? Waste no time in meeting with the troublesome manager. Decide if they deserve to keep their spot on the management team. 

If you ever receive complaints about workplace harassment, waste no time in carrying out consequences. It's your responsibility to guarantee your employees are working in a safe environment.

Create Rewards and Incentives

A quick way to boost employee engagement is by creating workplace incentives. 

No, you don't have to give everyone a cruise, but the occasional gift or word of encouragement goes a long way. If you're not sure what to offer, pull your staff together to discuss possibilities. 

Your staff may decide they want to create a goals board in the common area. Once an employee meets their goal, they can write their name on the wall for recognition. 

Do you have birthdays in the office coming up? Bring in fresh coffee in the morning to celebrate. 

Surprise your employees with a half-day or a prepaid dinner celebration when you finish a rough season. They'll appreciate the pick-me-up. 

Even if your company can't afford to buy dinners or gift cards, taking the time to thank your staff personally is crucial. You wouldn't be where you are without their dedication!

Creating a Positive Work Culture: Boosting Employee Engagement

Creating a positive work culture isn't always easy, especially if you're starting from scratch. A great way to promote a good work culture is boosting employee engagement in the workplace. 

There are many ways to boost employee engagement, such as creating opportunities for growth and recognizing hard work. Things aren't always easy for you and your employees, but you're all in this together. 

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