Any successful owner will tell you that their business is only as good as their employees. If their team is engaged in their work, they’re engaged in the company and that’s a win-win for everyone: management, staff, clients and customers alike. But what is employee engagement, and how do you measure it? More importantly, how do you achieve it? And what role does a learning content management system comparison play?
What is employee engagement?
It’s not enough to simply hire the brightest and best. Your company truly thrives when employees take ownership of their work because they believe in their role within the organisation, and what the company is trying to achieve. It’s a lot more than just liking the job (although that’s an important factor). Engaged employees are motivated to work harder toward a common goal because they’re aligned with the objectives of the organisation. They’ll have faith in management to do the right thing when they believe ‘we’re all in this together’.
What’s in it for me?
The immediate benefit to the organisation is improved productivity. Engaged employees work harder because in many ways they’re working for themselves. They’ve taken ownership of their role and feel they have part-ownership of the company; that sense of belonging is an incredibly powerful motivator. Studies show that engaged employees outperform the disengaged by well over 25%. 80% of those who trust management are more committed to the business. It lowers absentee rates and improves productivity by over 50%*.
What do I do?
There is an undeniable correlation between employee engagement and the relationship staff have with leadership. Clear messaging from management about direction, expectation and purpose, is something staff will embrace. Ask yourself, are our goals clear and concise? Do our employees understand how their work contributes to reaching those goals? Does management have the skills to build relationships and lead our team(s) effectively? If you can answer yes to all three, it’s time to build your employee engagement strategy.
Few of us are born-naturals, so educate yourself. Learning management systems powers potential and empowers leadership.
Start simple, and really get to know your team. Ask about their families and hobbies. Show that you’re interested and that sense of being valued will translate into better engagement.
Tell your staff how the company is doing – good or bad. They’re the bedrock of your organisation and need to know about the successes and near misses. The better understand the company – their company – the harder they’ll work to achieve success.
Give them the tools they need and help them grow in the role. They were hired because of their potential, so make the most of it. Learning management systems equip people to be their best selves. Armed with the right tools, employees are more productive. They’re also more energised because they can more easily do what they do best. Giving them support and resources to expand in the role heightens the feeling of being valued and furthers engagement.
What’s next?
When you build relationships with employees, listen to their concerns, take their advice and expand their roles, you build stronger, healthier teams. Employees feel valued and trusted, more productive and more importantly, they feel motivated to succeed. It’s a blueprint for success.