2. Modern business organizations are waking
up to the enormous promise inherent in
employee engagement strategies in the
workplace. It is the concept that many are
increasingly becoming reliant on in driving
performance and productivity. However,
there is a perception that to deploy a
successful plan; a lot of money must be
invested. The following ideas show why this
is a misconception that could be holding
back some valuable achievements at the
corporate front.
3. A veritable tool in engaging employee is
removing obstacles that hinder innovation
and productivity. Human resource managers
often forget that they took every effort to
hire talented individuals who have
consequently been working on the frontline
of the company's production. Putting
obstacles on any new ideas such employees
have about doing things can only stifle
innovation and bring down productivity.
4. Allowing workers enough flexibility to
accomplish tasks the way they prefer will
also help the business's productivity
goals. The management needs to realize
that productivity and outcomes are the
parameters that determine performance,
not the processes by which the workers
achieve these goals.
5. There is perhaps no other corporate
practice that leads to disengagement of
employees as endless bureaucracy. The
answer is not in firing managers but in
devolving accountability such that
employees do not have to feel that their
work and ideas have to undergo endless
reviews before it is accepted. Removing
even a single round of review gives workers
the sense that their efforts have been
recognized for their quality and excellence.
6. Companies can also engage their
employees further by giving immediate
feedback on every aspect of employee
performance. If a worker is going the extra
mile in achieving their goals, they need to
be given more than just a thank you. If
genuine appreciation of work well done is
not given, the employee is unlikely to put in
as much effort in the next engagement.
Conversely, failure to identify and censure
underperforming workers will only
encourage further laxity.
7. The power of open communication is
often ignored in many corporate circles.
Workers need to feel part of the strategy
at every level of operation so they can be
as passionate as the management in
achieving goals. Both good and bad news
should be shared in equal measure.
Trying to bottle up a piece of bad news
will only fuel rumors and conspiracy
theories.
8. Research shows that engaged employees
are much more productive for their
organizations. Such workers are more
customer-focused, much safer and likely
to be tempted into leaving the
organization. Leading organizations
strive to implement employee
engagement strategies in a bid to
achieve corporate goals and thereby
attain profitability.