While many factors contribute to the success of an organization, one thing that no business can survive without is its employees. The people who show up every day and work hard are the heart and soul of your company.
But it’s important to note that not all employees are made equal. While some are eager to perform well, others are just waiting for the end of the workday. This is the difference between engaged and unengaged employees.
Sadly, 85% of employees are not engaged in the workplace, but conscientious business owners are using these tricks to have a highly-engaged workforce.
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Send gifts
Is there anything that can bring a smile to someone’s face as much as a gift? Showing your appreciation with a thoughtful gift is becoming more popular in the business world because it shows employees that they’re an important part of an organization and they deserve recognition.
You can celebrate milestones, show support for those who are working from home, or anything else you can think of that your employees might deserve a thank you for.
When it comes to what gifts are appropriate for the workplace but still thoughtful enough, you can’t go wrong with snack gift boxes.
No matter what your employees like, they will certainly be delighted to receive a box of assorted snacks. SnackNation has great recommendations for the best snack gift boxes if you are looking for some inspiration.
Match them with an accountability buddy
Every person in your company has responsibilities and tasks on their plate, and it can sometimes be daunting and exhausting to keep track of them alone. After all, we humans are social beings, and when you’re going through hard times, sometimes you just need someone to turn to.
This is what accountability buddies are there for. They communicate with you about the experiences you’re going through, push you to take responsibility for the choices you make, and are there to be a support system. This all helps in enhancing your progress.
When you match your employees with an accountability buddy, you’re providing them with someone who will be there to discuss all challenges and frustrations. But this accountability buddy will also be there to celebrate all successes and push the employee in the right direction if needed.
Having an accountability buddy is priceless because while we all wish we had someone to talk to about our everyday struggles, it’s hard to find someone you can trust with that information.
Anyone can be an accountability buddy, but it’s best to pair up with people who are going through similar challenges, are close in age, and have an encouraging approach.
Make sure to listen to your employees
There is no such thing as a perfect workplace, employer, or manager. Everybody makes mistakes and even if you’re trying to improve employee engagement, you still might do something your workers don’t appreciate or agree with.
So how can you ensure you’re giving them exactly what they want?
The answer is rather simple – talk to them. Open communication with your employees can go a long way in increasing engagement because instead of relying on guesswork, the people whose engagement you’re trying to increase are telling you what they want and need.
One of the ways you can show you’re willing to listen is to send out regular engagement surveys and you can do this weekly, monthly, or annually. However, it would be best to do this as frequently as possible.
The most important thing when it comes to employee surveys is to actually take into account what they’re saying. Show them you want to make changes and improve their work lives. Their engagement will increase when they see you’re putting in an effort.
Of course, surveys aren’t the only way you can gather feedback. Another thing that can help is if you have an “open door” policy with everyone who works for you and let them know they’re free to come to you with any issue, concern, or question they have.
Focus on personal recognition
When someone in your company does something that deserves recognition, don’t shy away from celebrating their achievements. As much as 37% of employees said personal recognition from their managers would motivate them to work better, but sadly, personal recognition is very uncommon.
Recognizing one employee’s success and rewarding it can not only help boost their engagement levels but motivate their colleagues to work harder and get that same recognition.
Not only is employee recognition great for improving engagement, but it’s also one of the ways to improve employee retention in companies, which is something many businesses struggle with.
Final thoughts
A highly engaged workforce is a happy workforce. If you ensure your employees are engaged in the workplace, you’re ensuring the success of your business. Employee engagement is not rocket science and can be easily achieved. So, what are you waiting for? Make your employees excited about coming to work again.
