Still think you don’t need an employee engagement plan? Think about this: Unengaged employees cost US businesses over $500 billion per year in lost revenue. Even just one unhappy employee can put a wrench in all of your best efforts to improve office culture.
While it may seem like a lot of effort, an effective employee engagement plan is really just about opening the lines of communication and creating an operational mission that reflects this.
Check out our tips below for a few simple steps that can make a big difference.
Step 1: The Mission
Develop a mission statement or company plan – if you don’t have one already. Identify the distinguishing traits of your company and what it stands for. Once you do, understanding the kind of employee culture that is generated alongside this becomes easier.
Step 2: Ask Questions
Survey employees anonymously. Begin by tracking staff engagement first. Before you try to rectify a situation you need to fully understand employee metrics. What influences work culture in your office and what do workers want? Do they feel recognized? Are there enough opportunities on offer? Retain their answers and then share results company-wide.
Step 3: Open Doors
Promote inter-office and peer-to-peer communication. Encourage a supportive environment that amplifies enthusiasm and excitement around team accomplishments. Demonstrate that you are interested in their needs by increasing the amount of meetings that take place between managers and staff. Once the results of your surveys are in, ask employees to help create a tailored plan.
Step 4: Manage Time
Encourage time-boxing – employees actively schedule hours to work on each task. Initiate a workplace wide online calendar, or encourage employees to create their own. Time-boxing is a widely known tactic to increase engagement by helping employees deconstruct tasks and utilize their time effectively, thereby reducing stress.
Step 5: Garner Feedback
Whether it’s via surveys, incentive systems or simply encouraging open communication in meetings and day to day, ask your team for consistent feedback and listen to them when they have concerns. Employee engagement is about recognition, which is something we all need.
Don’t take employee engagement for granted. Dis-engaged employees lower your profits and provide poor customer service. They increase turnover rate and consistently call in sick. They can often be a plague amongst staff, advising others to slack off as well.
Take a look at what works and fix what doesn’t. With a few small steps, you will be on your way to increased employee happiness and a more profitable and productive future for all.
