Employee Engagement - The Complete Guide
Employee engagement is one of the most important drivers of an organization’s success. Employees are an organization’s most important asset, and when employees are engaged, they’re able to perform at their best, and collaborate effectively.
Read this guide to learn what makes employees engaged, why it matters, and what you can do to improve engagement among your workforce.
What is Employee Engagement?
Employee Engagement Definition: Employee engagement is the level of commitment, motivation, and connection employees demonstrate toward their work and their organization.
Employee engagement is not merely a measure of happiness or a positive attitude. Instead, it represents a state of motivation and commitment, not exclusively tied to feelings of pleasure or contentment.
Engagement is reflected in employees’ attitudes and job performance. Highly engaged employees experience higher levels of job satisfaction, exhibit strong work ethic, and make meaningful contributions to their teams.
Engagement is the result of intentional strategies (like a formal employee engagement program) designed to create work environments and cultures where employees can thrive.
Importance of employee engagement in the modern workplace:
Engaged employees are an asset to their organizations, but disengagement among employees can hurt an organization and its goals. Employees who are engaged are more likely to do their best work, go "above and beyond", and are invested in the success of the company. In short, engaged employees are more likely to help the company perform well and meet goals.
→ Read more: 20 easy ways to motivate employees.
Understanding Employee Engagement
Over the years, surveys by Gallup and others have estimated the amount of engaged employees worldwide to be as low as 13%.
An employee's level of engagement can change over time. There are several levels of employee engagement and examples of each kind of behavior:
Actively Engaged - Actively engaged employees care about what they do, and bring extra efforts to work every day. They take initiative when solving problems, and actively participate in helping their organization reach its goals. They are optimistic about organizational outcomes, and forge connections with their team members.
Non-engaged- Engaged employees perform what is required of them, but rarely exceed those expectations. They are motivated by necessity rather than a connection to their work. They are indifferent about the future of their organization.
Disengaged - Disengaged employees display a negative attitude about their job or the company they work for. These employees are frequently isolated from their colleagues. They put forth minimal effort, and are at highest risk for absenteeism or attrition.
What Impacts Employee Engagement?
There are several drivers of employee engagement, such as:
- Recognition - When employees feel that their contributions are noticed and appreciated, they are more likely to put forth their best effort. Recognizing employees’ talents and accomplishments is a form of positive reinforcement that drives engagement.
- Purpose - Engaged employees find meaning in their work, and can see how their role contributes to a bigger picture.
- Learning and Development - Employees who feel stuck in their roles without room to grow will easily become disengaged. Even the most talented workers will lose motivation if they do not feel challenged and stimulated by their work. One of the top reasons employees leave their organizations for other opportunities is a lack of room for growth. Investing in your employees’ professional development can help keep them engaged.
- Connection - Engagement is driven not only by a connection to one’s work but also by connection to one’s colleagues, managers, and the organization as a whole. Building relationships among teams and between managers and their supervisees can increase employee engagement.
- Communication - Employees can remain engaged when they have a clear understanding of their role, and have access to the information they need to be successful. Communication is also the lifeblood of connection between colleagues and among teams, and employees who feel connected to their coworkers are more likely to remain engaged.
- Autonomy - Employees crave autonomy and flexibility. When your people can work smarter, not harder, they can get more done. And, allowing for autonomy and flexibility establishes a culture of trust and mutual respect and better relationships between management and employees.
- Agency - When employees feel they have a voice at their company and can exert influence over its future and their own, they become more invested in their jobs.
What are the "5 Cs" of employee engagement?
The "5 Cs" of employee engagement are important factors that contribute to employee engagement in a company. These factors are:
1. Connection:
- Connection refers to the sense of belonging and attachment that employees feel toward their organization. It involves establishing strong relationships and a sense of community within the workplace. Engaged employees are more likely to feel connected to their colleagues, managers, and the company as a whole.
2. Commitment:
- Commitment relates to an employee's dedication and enthusiasm for their work and the organization. These employees demonstrate a strong work ethic and a desire to make a meaningful impact.
3. Culture:
- Culture encompasses the organizational values, beliefs, and norms that shape the work environment. Engaged employees thrive in a positive, inclusive, and empowering culture that aligns with their own values. A healthy work culture fosters motivation, creativity, and a sense of purpose.
4. Communication:
- Effective communication is crucial for employee engagement. Engaged employees have access to clear, open, and transparent communication channels. They are well-informed about company goals, changes, and performance feedback. Communication also involves listening to employees' concerns and feedback, demonstrating that their voices are valued.
5. Career Development:
- Career development opportunities play a significant role in employee engagement. Engaged employees see a clear path for growth and advancement within the organization. They are provided with opportunities for skill development, training, and progression in their careers, which leads to greater job satisfaction and commitment.
When a company prioritizes the 5 C's, employees feel more engaged, motivated, and satisfied in their jobs. This ultimately benefits both the individual and the organization as a whole.
Employee Engagement - A Strategy for Performance & Retention
Read this white paper to learn why engagement is the foundation behind committed workforces, and how to implement a strategy.
What are the benefits of employee engagement?
An engaged workforce is crucial to the success of your organization. There are many benefits to improving employee engagement. From turnover rates to customer experience, business outcomes improve as employee engagement increases.
Benefit #1: Productivity
Engaged employees are high performers; they are more likely to work diligently and go above and beyond what is asked of them. Their investment in the mission of their organization motivates them to help the company reach its goals. According to Gallup, high employee engagement leads to an 18% increase in productivity.
Benefit #2: Retention & Recruitment
Organizations with higher rates of employee engagement experience lower rates of absenteeism and turnover, and higher employee retention. Absenteeism and employee turnover are expensive. Engaged employees experience greater job satisfaction and are much less likely than their disengaged peers to actively seek opportunities at other companies. According to LumApps and CMSWire research presented in Employee Retention Strategies for the Digital Workplace, 59% of employees would rather stay at their current employers under the right conditions.
An engaged workforce is not only helpful for retaining the employees you have, it can also help you to attract the best talent to your organization. Your employees’ level of engagement affects your company’s reputation; engaged workers not only make your organization more attractive to potential hires, but they can also help to refer or recruit new additions to your team. According to LumApps and CMSWire research presented in The New Era of Employee Recruiting, 87% of employees consider employee experience, engagement and empowerment an important factor when evaluating a new employer.
Benefit #3: Increased Profit
According to Gallup, engaged employees contribute 23% increase in profits. Engaged employees are usually working harder, and are more productive, which leads to accomplished business goals.
→ Read More: Benefits of employee engagement
What are the challenges to employee engagement?
Remote work has created new challenges in employee engagement. When a company sets an action plan for employee engagement, it faces several challenges due to the geographical dispersion of teams.
Here are some key challenges that companies may encounter when attempting to enhance employee engagement:
- Lack of Face-to-Face Interaction: In remote work settings, lack of face-to-face interactions can make it difficult to build relationships and establish strong connections among employees. It's challenging to replicate the camaraderie and bonding that naturally occur in physical office environments.
- Communication Barriers: Effective communication is crucial for engagement, but remote work can introduce communication barriers. Misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and delayed responses can hinder employee engagement. The challenge is to ensure that communication channels are open, efficient, and inclusive.
- Measuring Engagement Remotely: Measuring employee engagement in remote work environments can be challenging. Traditional methods like in-person surveys or observations are not possible. Remote employees may be less inclined to participate in surveys, and it can be harder to accurately gauge their feelings.
- Employee Isolation: Remote employees may experience feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can lead to disengagement. They miss out on the social interactions and informal connections that are prevalent in traditional office settings.
- Work-Life Balance: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be challenging in remote work, leading to burnout and decreased engagement. Employers need to actively promote and support work-life balance to keep employees engaged.
- Recognition and Feedback: Remote employees may feel neglected when it comes to feedback and recognition. The absence of in-person praise and acknowledgment can impact their motivation and engagement.
- Training and Development: Providing ongoing training and development opportunities for remote employees can be more complex.
- Cultural and Time Zone Differences: Companies with remote teams in various regions may face challenges related to cultural differences and scheduling conflicts. These factors can impact team cohesion and engagement.
Strategies to Improve Employee Engagement
Be sure to set a strategy for measurement when you set an action plan for employee engagement.
Employee engagement strategies and employee engagement best practices include:
1. Perks & Recognition
Recognize your employees’ contributions and reward their achievements. Highlight an individual or a team in the company newsletter, offer a bonus, incentives or gifts, or routinely express appreciation for a specific contribution during the next team meeting.
A key part of successful recognition is highlighting how individuals contribute to the overall mission of the company - this helps employees find purpose in their work. Employees remain engaged when they feel valued, and see clearly how their efforts affect the success of their organization. Create spaces where employees can recognize their peers or nominate a coworker for an award or a shout-out.
2. Build A Strong Company Culture
Engagement is not a trait or a skill that some employees have while others lack. Rather, engagement is a state of being. Even the most talented, satisfied employees can become disengaged in an environment that is dysfunctional or fails to meet the needs of its workforce. Create an environment where employee engagement can flourish. Strong company culture is based on effective communication, relationships between managers and supervisees, and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
3. Develop Employee Engagement Activities
Engaged employees feel a sense of connection to their employer and their colleagues. Give your employees opportunities to connect with one another with employee engagement activities and events. This might be a team retreat, community service days, company-wide contests between departments, or other events taking place in or out of the office. Additionally, provide digital ways to connect using internal platforms that offer communities and knowledge sharing opportunities.
4. Use an Employee Engagement Software
LumApps intranet serves as an employee engagement software. These tools help employees communicate, connect remotely, and access information and resources to be productive.
→ Learn about the best features of employee engagement software.
5. Consider Work-Life Balance
Demonstrating a respect for your employees’ work-life balance nurtures a healthy work culture. Grade employees on their work, instead of what times they’re online or in the office. This allows employees to stay on top of their responsibilities outside of work and enables them to devote the necessary time and energy to their jobs.
6. Support In-Office, Hybrid and Remote Employees
Employees who work from home or away from a desk can disengage if they don’t have access to the information they need, or are left out of critical conversations. When organizing events like employee appreciation, town-hall meetings, or sharing company news, make sure all employees are included.
In-office employees should be afforded the same flexibility and autonomy that their remote coworkers enjoy. Wherever your employees work, managers should play an active role in ensuring that they have the support they need to be successful in their jobs.
6 Empower a Committee and Ambassadors
Some employers make the mistake of relegating employee engagement activities to the human resources department. In reality, measuring and improving employee engagement is a collaborative effort that must involve HR professionals, internal communications teams, IT departments, and especially managers.
In addition, employers can more directly involve their employees in nurturing engagement by empowering an engagement committee and ambassadors from various departments.
7 Give Employees a Voice (Digital and In-Person)
Employees participate more actively in the pursuit of company goals when they have a voice among decision makers. Letting employees speak up boosts morale, engagement, and builds trust. It also helps discover valuable information about employee happiness and daily work.
Be sure that your plan includes options for in-person and virtual solutions to accommodate their location.
For example, you might create a virtual suggestion box and open question and answers opportunities. Or, hold town hall style meetings both virtually and in person, and hold space for a question and answer forum.
→ Read more: 30 Employee Engagement Best Practices
LumApps, the Employee Experience Platform:
Internal Communications – Measurement to Mastery
Enhance your internal communication strategy and learn the impact of communication done right.
Tools & Software to Measure Employee Engagement
Gather a range of different metrics to effectively measure employee engagement. Using various data sources will give you a better understanding of when, why, and how much your employees are engaged. Here are some engagement tools to consider:
Annual Employee Engagement Surveys
An annual employee engagement survey can help your organization measure big-picture trends and observe year-over-year changes. Survey questions should address engagement from multiple perspectives and consider the multi-faceted drivers of engagement.
Sample employee engagement survey questions:
- Are you happy with your work?
- What makes you happy/unhappy?
- Do you understand the company mission?
- Do you understand your role and where it fits within the company?
- Do you feel part of a team?
- Do you feel proud to work for this company?
- Do you think the company intranet helps you to do your job better?
- Do/would you use the company intranet?
- How often do you use the company intranet?
- Do you see yourself working here in 5 years?
- Do you feel you have a clear career path?
- Do you feel you have the necessary support to do your job effectively?
- Do you feel sufficiently challenged to do your best work?
- How likely are you to look for another job in the next year?
- Do you feel your contributions make a difference to the company and or the community?
- Do you feel valued among your colleagues?
- What are the biggest obstacles you face in achieving your objectives at work?
A five-point Likert scale can help you quickly and easily gauge employee sentiment, but consider including some open-ended questions as well.
Employee Pulse-Surveys
While annual surveys can be helpful for getting big-picture feedback, pulse surveys can provide more granular, actionable insights. Pulse surveys should be shorter, more frequent, and more specific than annual questionnaires. You can use pulse surveys as a regular check in with employees.
It may be useful to design pulse surveys about specific moments in the employee journey, and gather feedback after an onboarding or training session, after an annual performance review, after introducing a new internal software, and other significant moments.
Focus Groups
While surveys can yield large volumes of quantitative data relatively quickly, focus groups can provide deeper insights through more qualitative data. You may wish to follow up an employee survey with a focus group on the same topic to learn more about the initial insights and get some more context to accompany the results. With the right design and structure, focus groups can lead to meaningful discussions that illuminate hidden problems and even possible solutions.
Employee engagement ideas for a successful focus group:
- To make sure your focus group is productive (and not merely a venting session), explain the scope of what you hope to discuss and the desired outcome.
- Keep groups to a manageable size so that all participants will have an opportunity to contribute.
- Invite employees from all levels and departments in your organization.
- Limit the number of questions you pose to the group, and make them as specific as possible.
- Appoint a neutral facilitator to encourage participants to speak honestly and candidly.
- Take detailed notes about the conversations, questions, and topics that come up. While the meeting is still fresh in your mind, write a summary report.
- Present your findings to the appropriate stakeholders and use the insights to drive your strategy going forward.
Exit Interviews
The exit interview can yield some surprising insights about company culture and employee experience. While the exit interview may seem like a moot point (after all, the employee is already on their way out), don’t skip it. This is an opportunity to better understand your employees’ motivations and experiences, and make improvements for existing employees and new hires. Keep a record of the exit interview and use this data to track trends and changes over time.
Net Promoter Score
What is the Net Promoter Score? The Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) is rooted in consumer research. It is based on the idea that customer experience can be measured with the single question: “How likely are you to recommend (x) to a friend or colleague?”
Human resources professionals have adapted this model to gauge employee engagement by asking if their staff would recommend working at their company. The answer to this question (or a similar single question) can serve as a quick indicator of employee engagement levels. But, in order to obtain actionable insights, a single question is not sufficient on its own.
Retention Rate
Retention is one of the top 10 Kpis to measure employee engagement. High turnover is a sure sign of employee disengagement. Amid the Great Resignation, employee retention has emerged as a major concern for organizations all over the world. While retention is not the only metric that matters, tracking rates of retention and turnover among different types of employees can yield important insights about how engaged your workforce is.
Online Reputation
Your online reputation can hint at the level of engagement among your workforce. Two of the biggest factors in your online reputation are your customers’ satisfaction and your employees’ advocacy for your organization. Engaged employees not only deliver superior customer service and results, but also act as brand ambassadors for your organization.
Engagement Software
Employee engagement software plays a vital role in helping organizations measure, monitor, and enhance their employees' engagement levels.
When selecting employee engagement software, it's crucial to assess the specific needs and objectives of your organization. The software should be able to scale for your business's unique needs and should integrate with existing business tools.
Here are some important features to consider when evaluating such software:
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Analytics and Reporting: Robust analytics and reporting features to help organizations interpret and visualize survey results.
2. Communication and Collaboration: Built-in communication tools, such as messaging or notifications, to facilitate follow-up discussions and action planning. Collaboration features: Integration with collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to support engagement-related initiatives.
3. Recognition and Rewards: Integration with employee recognition and rewards systems to reinforce positive behaviors and contributions.
4. Learning and Development: Tools for identifying video training and development needs based on engagement data and offering e-learning resources to address those needs.
5. Employee Self-Service: Employee self-service portals to view survey results, access resources, and participate in ongoing engagement initiatives.
6. Mobile Accessibility: Mobile-friendly interfaces or dedicated mobile apps for easy participation and access to engagement data on the go.
7. Customization and Scalability: Software that can be customized to align with an organization's unique engagement goals and scalable to accommodate growth.
8. User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive and user-friendly interface that encourages employee participation and simplifies the survey-taking process.
9. Integration with HR Systems: Seamless integration with HR systems, including human resource management software and talent management solutions.
10. AI and Machine Learning: AI-driven insights and recommendations based on data analysis, helping organizations identify patterns and trends in engagement data.
Employee Engagement FAQ
Employee engagement refers to an employee’s commitment and connection to their employer. The workers’ level of engagement drives a company’s success. High levels of engagement improve performance at all levels of the organization. They encourage long-term employee relationships as well as customer loyalty. Why Are Employee Engagement Surveys Important?
- Reduction in Absenteeism
- Increase Productivity
- Better Employee Safety
- Lower Turnover
- Higher Growth
The benefits of employee engagement are numerous – from higher productivity to increased profit.
- Reduction in Absenteeism
- Better Employee Safety
- Defines company values
- Boosts company success
- Enhances company reputation
- Reduces employee turnover
- Improve job satisfaction
- Build a strong company culture
- Initiate employee engagement activities
- Encourage networking
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