Productivity: economic theories have been obsessed with them for decades. More efficient operations mean more revenue in return against a lower cost. This especially holds in the age of industrialization and mechanization. However, we entered a new era around two decades ago: the digital age. This was not only about automation but also about keeping the knowledge worker at the center. If you have happy and productive knowledge workers, your organization tends to be more future-proof. This concept is referred to as employee engagement. This article will explore what it means and how you can leverage it to get the best out of your employees.
Keeping your employees engaged
A high employee turnover is an increasingly common challenge in specific sectors. For example, there is a true battle happening among organizations in the software industry to attract the best talents. Ranging from salaries to free lunches and housing, there is much to gain and lots to lose (if the employees decide to leave again). Engagement is a common denominator that influences if an employee stays at your organization. How does it work?
Understanding the values of your organization
Engagement is not only the daily activities that the employees conduct. It is about the broader organization as well: do they feel part of it? Are they aligned with the strategy? Do they believe in the mission of the organization? Having a mission that simply focuses on maximizing revenue will not be sufficient. How are you going to contribute to society as a whole? By answering these questions for your organization, you can bring a compelling story to employees.
Test what matters to them
A company’s strategy should not be a static piece. It changes over time and is fluid based on inputs from both inside and outside the organizational realm. It can come from forces such as shareholders, but also environmental and societal perspectives. These ideas should be tested with all stakeholders involved, including the employees. By engaging them with these questions, you are not creating a strategy: you are co-creating it together with the required stakeholders.
The needs of the employees
Having your organization’s mission and objectives aligned is one thing. You also need to make sure that the challenges that employees face are addressed. Having conversations with them is of crucial importance. What are the challenges they face? Where do they see room for improvement in the organization? These inputs can help you create a happier workforce while gradually improving the organization as a whole. This process can be referred to as a combination of employee listening and engagement.
Engaging experts in the matter
Effectory is an organization that helps companies understand and improve employee engagement. Using innovative tools and data analytics, they can create insights and build a comprehensive roadmap that helps to drive the company to more productivity, efficiency, and most of all: a happier workforce.