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Financial rewards are just the beginning of keeping employees active in their roles. Another, more .jpg?width=320&name=iStock-504538792%20(1).jpg "Keep Your Employees Engaged")
An overlooked factor is job satisfaction. Just like you want to be a part of the company and commit to its success, so do the workers. But you are also the main character in the story who can either unite these individuals or break them apart through engagement or lack thereof.
The biggest component to keeping employees engaged and retaining them is motivation. Not only do you have to be able to invigorate the workforce, but you must also be as active as they are.
Define your vision.
When you have a roadmap for navigating a new terrain, you feel more confident, and people are much more likely to follow. The same goes for your new hires. Culture is a complex yet delicate thing. Employees want to feel part of something grand, and their daily accomplishments add to the bigger scheme. Give them milestones to hit as they move through their day. Give them goals to strive for, and then celebrate when those aspirations are reached. Clear KPI’s and priorities can make this possible.
Give employees the feedback they want.
People will usually learn from their mistakes. Many strive to obtain feedback from their superiors about the job they did so that the result of their effort continuously transcends expectations. If you do not give them appropriate feedback, your employees will begin to feel both underappreciated and underestimated. Worse, without constructive criticism, they may continue to make errors that cost the company revenue. Help your employees help you and the business by praising them when they do well and offering advice on correcting things that went awry.
Communicate.
Not just with your spoken word, either. Email, memos, newsletters, custom smartphone applications, FAQs, and announcements are crucial in keeping engagement flowing throughout the office space. When everyone feels like they are in the know, productivity increases, and uncertainty decreases. Hold daily huddles. Allow people to ask questions. If instructions are unclear, find another way to explain.
Coaching and training.
The present workforce yearns for continuous education and fresh knowledge. Keep your employees inquisitive by offering chances to learn new skills, obtain new responsibilities, and test out various roles within the company. Allowing people to satisfy their curiosities while maintaining a level of job security increases work satisfaction. Keep smart!
Random acts of kindness.
Employees are humans, not drones. People want to feel as if they have value. When you create a relationship with them (while maintaining boss-employee boundaries, of course), you show that you care. Learn the names of their children, their hobbies, and their ambitions. Be flexible when it comes to work-life balance. Also, gifting the group with events or parties throughout the year does not hurt.
Create trust.
In other words, be transparent. Try open-book management techniques to share what is going on in the company. People remain more engaged and dedicated to their work when they feel like what they do matters. Be the leader the employees can turn to when something goes wrong. Trust their abilities, but also be the individual who keeps to your word, delivers when promised, and holds yourself accountable. By doing so, you become the reliable role model everyone wants.
In short, employee engagement is kind of like social networking. You create meaningful relationships, learn about these individuals, and try incorporating their skills into their job roles. As you communicate thoughtfully, discuss the company’s vision and allow for employees' opinions and ideas to shape the business's success. In time, you will have a happier workforce that is as motivated as you are.
Good luck and engage your employees, Alan
Want to learn more about Employee Engagement? Check out these additional resources:
White Paper: The Unbeatable Return on Payroll of Engaged Employees
3 Employee Engagement Stats that Will Make You Take Action
The Shadow Side of Employee Engagement
The 10 Best Employee Engagement KPIs [Video]
5 Minute Rhythm: Improving Employee Engagement [Video]
How to Fuel Employee Engagement with a Recognition Culture
Are Employee Motivation and Engagement the Same? [Infographic]
10 Ways to Improve Employee Engagement in Your Manufacturing Company [Video]
Photo Credit: iStock by Getty Images
