10 Sure-Fire Ways to Boost Employee Engagement

Table of Contents

• What is Employee Engagement

• Why is Employee Engagement Important?

• How to Boost Employee Engagement

• Conclusion

What is Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement is the level of passion, dedication, and investment an employee shows in their job. It is an indicator of commitment and enthusiasm to the work they do and the organization at which they work. 

Motivated employees show more engagement, through participation, proactiveness, and initiative. 

Why is Employee Engagement Important?

The most important aspect of any successful company is not the services it offers or the products on the shelves, it is the people. Employees are the oil that keeps the cogs of a company running smoothly. 

Employee engagement has a direct impact on productivity. If employees feel neglected or unappreciated, morale goes down and employee engagement subsequently decreases. Studies have shown that 92% of business leaders believe that the productivity of engaged employees helps bring better results. 

Engaged employees are more committed to the organization and the company's goals. This results in a lower employee turnover rate, as employees are happy with the current work culture. Workforces with engaged and participative employees see a reduced absenteeism culture, by 41%. This is because employees are enthusiastic and want to be at work, contributing to the firm’s success. Other reasons for reduced absenteeism are the mental and physical health of the employee and overall job satisfaction. 

How to Boost Employee Engagement

Employee engagement benefits a company's overall success. This is why it is important to establish innovative methods of employee engagement and keep employees motivated. 

A few methods are listed below. 

Improved Communication Channels

Ineffective communication channels may leave employees feeling disconnected from their company, management, and leaders. Forming and establishing healthy and open communication channels ensures that there are no miscommunications, there are regular updates and briefings, and employees are engaged with the work they do. 

Boost Interaction

Boosting interaction outside of purely work-related communication will make employees form meaningful connections with those around them and foster a sense of belongingness. This automatically increases enthusiasm and engagement within the company. 

Work/Life Balance

87% of employees expect their company to provide a healthy work/life balance. Doing so will show employees that you value them on a personal level and as a human being. This will also boost morale and engagement. 

Onboarding Experience

The first few weeks of an employee's life at your company are crucial, as this is the time in which they gain an understanding of how the company works and what the work environment is like. Ensuring a positive onboarding experience will lead to employees putting in more effort to engage with the company and the work they do. This included an introduction to the company culture, training, and guidance. A successful onboarding experience will result in higher employee retention.

Passion Projects

When employees feel like they make meaningful contributions to the company, they are more involved and engaged. This can be achieved by letting employees pursue their passion projects. Fostering innovative pursuits that are both beneficial for the company and the employee creates a sense of achievement in the employee. One of the best examples of this is Google, where employee innovations are implemented widely. 

Training and Development

In the same vein as passion projects, training and development is an important part of the hiring process, and can help with employee engagement. If employees are given career development and skill training opportunities which will not only help them climb the corporate ladder, but also add value to their contribution as an employee, they become more motivated and engaged with the company. It’s a win-win situation for the company as well as the employee. 

Feedback

Employees value feedback. Whether it is positive or negative, it helps them improve the quality of their work and deliver better results. When employees are met with radio silence after putting effort into the work they do, they become demotivated and less engaged. Providing employees with constructive feedback makes them feel like they matter and are an important part of the company. 

Physical and Mental Health Initiatives

Offering opportunities to employees for them to improve their mental and physical health will convey that they are cared for on a holistic level. This will boost engagement and develop the employees’ overall well-being.

Management Engagement

Just as employee engagement is important to productivity, the engagement of management and leaders in their organization is also essential. Involved managers motivate employees. Studies show that when managers show a high level of engagement in the company, employees are 3.4 times more likely to be engaged. 

Recognition and Achievements

One of the most effective non-monetary incentives for employees is recognition. Rewarding employees for delivering good results makes them feel valued, respected, and appreciated. It also helps them gain confidence, feel more motivated, and develop a higher sense of self-esteem. This can be done through award ceremonies, shout-outs during team meetings, corporate gifting, or incentive systems. 

Conclusion

This blog specifies the importance of employee engagement in a company and 10 ways to boost engagement and motivate employees. 

One of the most effective ways to improve employee involvement is giving rewards to high-performers, through corporate gifting, or other methods.

At Apsara Gifts, Bangalore, we realize the monumental impact a simple gesture can have in any organization. We strive to craft innovative gifts, filled with love and respect for every employee out there who gives their best to the company they love.