3 Strategic Ways to Boost Employee Engagement

3 Strategic Ways to Boost Employee Engagement

 Strategic employee engagement is critical to the success of any organization. Having motivated, highly engaged employees contributes to a positive working environment. An effective employee engagement strategy carries a whole host of other benefits that can make a profound impact on the company, including:

• Increasing employee retention
• Facilitating employee satisfaction and job satisfaction
• Boosting morale
• Lower turnover
• Higher growth
• Greater output

Despite the many benefits of an engaged workforce, it can be difficult to achieve without a well thought out employee engagement strategy or the right tools to facilitate the goal. 

All too often, companies start with the best of intentions and endeavor to foster a positive employee experience. 

However, with deadlines and the challenges of day-to-day operations, leaders may lack a convenient way to monitor, encourage, and improve engagement efforts and company culture. This can in turn lead to shortened employee lifecycles, tension, and low morale.

Today, we’re outlining three best practices for companies to boost employee engagement:

1. Communicate effectively

Clear and effective communication is essential for fostering highly engaged employees. Leaders should ensure that employees understand the company’s mission and goals, and how their individual work contributes to the organization’s success and business outcomes. Communication should be ongoing, two-way, and tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways that companies can encourage effective communication among their employees. One way is to hold regular group meetings, where everyone has a chance to share their ideas and thoughts on the company’s direction. Another way is to encourage open communication by establishing an “open door policy,” where employees feel comfortable approaching their managers with questions or concerns. 

Apart from encouraging employee feedback, businesses can facilitate employee feedback surveys to assess their job satisfaction and understand areas for improvement.

Companies can also foster effective communication by making sure that all employees have access to the same information. By taking these steps, companies can ensure that their employees are always on the same page and are empowered to do their best work.

Here are some communication-based activities to boost employee engagement:

• Regular feedback and recognition: Providing regular feedback and recognition to employees helps them feel valued and appreciated. It can boost their morale and motivate them to do their best work.
• Employee surveys: Conducting regular employee surveys can help organizations identify areas for improvement and gain insight into employee satisfaction and engagement levels.

2. Offer opportunities for growth and development

People who feel stagnant in their roles are less likely to be engaged employees and can negatively impact job satisfaction. Providing opportunities for growth and development shows employees that you value their contributions and want them to stay with the company long-term. 

Consider offering educational opportunities, such as online courses or tuition reimbursement, or professional development programs such as mentorship or coaching. You may also consider these specific ways to boost employee engagement through growth and development:

• Learning and development opportunities: Providing opportunities for employees to learn and develop new skills can boost their engagement and help them feel more invested in their role. Whether you are promoting webinars, lunch and learns, or online courses this is a great way to keep employees engaged at work.
• Team-building activities: Organizing team-building activities can help build camaraderie and trust among team members, which can lead to better collaboration and communication.

3. Recognize and reward employees to encourage their best work

Lack of recognition can cause even the best employees to become disengaged in their daily work. If a team member shows up to work and gives it her all, day in and day out, with no recognition, she may start to wonder if her work is valued or appreciated. Employees giving the bare minimum will disrupt the work experience for other people as well as hurt the overall business objectives.

Recognizing and rewarding employees for their efforts is a powerful way to boost engagement and ensure optimal business outcomes. There are many ways to show appreciation for a job well done, from simple verbal praise to more formal awards and bonuses. You may consider activities like:

• Employee of the month: Selecting an employee of the month and publicly recognizing their accomplishments can boost morale and motivate others to strive for excellence.
• Monetary rewards: Offering bonuses, gift cards, or other monetary rewards for exceptional performance can motivate employees to work harder and achieve their goals.
• Recognition programs: Implementing a recognition program that allows peers or managers to nominate and recognize employees for their exceptional work can boost engagement and morale.

No matter what method you choose, it’s important to be genuine in your appreciation and make sure that everyone feels like they are being fairly recognized.

When done right, a little recognition can go a long way toward motivating team members and fostering a positive employee experience. Try to be specific and sincere when praising employees, and offer rewards that are meaningful to them.

In Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to boost employee engagement. By communicating effectively, offering opportunities for growth, and recognizing and rewarding the people that make up your organization, you can foster high employee engagement and increased productivity.

Fortunately, STRIVE makes executing an employee engagement strategy convenient and effective. STRIVE is an employee engagement software that has everything from benefits, rewards and recognition, telemedicine, and anything else related to the employee experience all in one place. 

STRIVE has everything necessary to improve company culture and build a happier, healthier workforce. Its benefits, rewards, and recognition programs allow employees to feel appreciated and valued. 

Additionally, via its personalized app, STRIVE empowers team members to take control of their own employee experience at work, allowing them to contribute ideas and feedback that can help shape the future of the organization.

To learn more about STRIVE, click here.