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A business benefits from employees likely to stay with them for longer. Who perform better. And experience less burnout. In other words, engaged employees.
Evidence shows the best ways to encourage employee engagement are:
(a) Help employees form a bond between work and what they care about
(b) Reduce stress at work and make it more enjoyable
(c) Reward employees with financial incentives, time off, and recognition
Based on the above, here are 20 creative ideas. You can use them for boosting employee engagement:
It’s a great idea to set up a full recognition and rewards program. You can use this to say thank you for employees' hard work. Or to acknowledge achievements. For example, plan employee appreciation events. These could be family picnics, annual dinners, or team retreats.
To increase recognition for hard work during the year, do the following:
Share praise that’s specific, timely, and in line with actions you want to encourage. It should also be visible to caring colleagues.
Give credit to all employees working on a project or solving a problem.
Write a note of thanks to an employee or colleague for something they did. State why you appreciate what they did and how they add value to the business.
Ask employees how they prefer to praise. You can then speak a "language" with more meaning.
Encourage employee engagement with cross-department collaboration or events. When employees from different departments work together, it builds relationships and trust. Plus, it promotes good communication, teamwork, and more collaboration.
Add mentorship initiatives to provide support for professional development. Internal mentorship programs could mean mixing experienced employees with newer ones. Or you can try "reverse mentoring". In this case, junior staff share knowledge with senior employees.
Internal mentorship programs will foster knowledge-sharing and relationship-building. This will offer new perspectives.
Introduce wellness activities for your employees. This will make physical and mental well-being a priority. Some options you can try are yoga, meditation, or fitness challenges.
Employees are more likely to stay engaged if they’ve got a chance to better their skills. Or if they can learn more. Ideas for development opportunities include:
Training programs
Workshops
Conferences
Knowledge-sharing sessions
Knowledge-sharing sessions allow employees to talk about topics they excel in. They can showcase their expertise and share best practices.
Employee-driven initiatives help to foster a culture of continuous learning. This encourages employees to start projects in line with their interests. They can also lead these projects too. Employee-led learning initiatives can include lunch-and-learn sessions. Or they can be workshops where employees share their skills or expertise on a topic.
Make work more engaging and enjoyable by adding gamified elements. Doing so may also foster healthy competition among employees.
Social events are always a good option. You can hold team-building activities, social outings, and themed events. These can be in-person and virtual. They can build a sense of community. Through these activities, employees build stronger relationships, bonds, and trust.
Create employee resource groups (ERGs) at work to empower staff. ERGs are resource groups based on common interests or diversity. They promote belonging and inclusivity. For example, LGBTQ+, cultural, or women's groups. These groups also provide support. Plus, they provide a platform for idea-sharing and networking.
Put easy-to-use communication tools or platforms in place. This allows for effective communication. This type of platform also helps share updates, news, and success stories. This keeps employees informed and engaged.
Organize challenges, competitions, or idea contests. These encourage employees to contribute solutions and ideas. Be sure to reward the winners. Especially if their vision benefits the company and its image.
Organize and support company-sponsored volunteer activities or social impact initiatives. These projects should align with company values. They must make a positive difference in the community. Plus, they need to foster a sense of purpose among employees.
Give employees a budget or the resources for personal development activities. When employees have this allowance, they can choose where to spend it. Relevant courses, certifications, or conferences to boost their skills are all options.
Offer employees leadership training programs. Or, provide other opportunities to grow their leadership skills. Examples of programs include mentorship, training, and advancement opportunities in the organization.
Offer employees' flexible work arrangements. Remote work options or flexible work hours are popular choices. Doing so empowers employees to manage their schedules. This promotes a better work-life balance.
Identify the areas where your employees can enjoy flexibility. If employees work shifts, use a time clock to track hours on all sides. This ensures there’s no room for miscommunication. Doing so creates a feeling of trust and accountability.
Ensure employees understand the organization's goals to boost engagement. Align their objectives with the organization's plans. This fosters a sense of direction and purpose.
Empower your employees by delegating some decision-making authority for projects. This gives them a sense of autonomy and empowerment. You can empower employees by encouraging them to do the following:
Take ownership of a project and their work
Make decisions
Share ideas
Promote a continuous feedback culture between managers and employees. This fosters development and growth. It will also help managers to identify issues early. Plus, they can have performance conversations with their employees.
Allow employees to form a task force or committee about a topic they enjoy. Examples include sustainability, recycling, diversity, and well-being. When employees feel supported to drive positive change, they’ll engage more.
Establish ways for employees to share feedback, suggestions, and concerns. This shows you value their opinions. In turn, this may increase their engagement. Examples of channels include online tools, regular surveys, or suggestion boxes.
A company can reduce staff turnover and increase productivity by ensuring employee engagement. Each organization is unique. So, tailor these ideas to fit your company's unique culture and employees' needs. The results will be worth it!
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