How can you better invest in improving employee engagement?
12 Dec 2016It’s no secret that the backbone of any good business is an engaged team of employees. For leaders, being able to inspire an engaged staff is one of the most critical functions. A recent Gallup Poll substantiated this notion – concluding that key performance outcomes are tied directly to engagement levels within an organisation.
Businesses that ranked in the top quartile for employee engagement had higher levels of profitability and productivity, and lower turnover rates than organisations in the bottom quartile.
The takeaway here is that when you invest your focus on improving employee engagement, you are making a critical investment in your company’s core business drivers as well. So – how can leaders better engage their team? We’ve compiled a list of three concrete steps.
Lead by example
One of the most effective ways to inspire a more engaged team is by being an engaged leader yourself. A separate Gallup poll found that when employees had an engaged manager or leader they were almost 40 per cent more likely to be engaged themselves.
When you show that you are invested, that same behaviour is likely to follow. Whatever you are doing, give 100 per cent and you will be much more likely to receive 100 per cent in return.
Form relationships
Think back to all of the good bosses you have had throughout your professional career. Chances are the leaders you remember are ones you had strong relationships with. According to Forbes contributor Ron Carucci, when leaders take the time to get to know and understand their employees they almost always have a positive influence on engagement rates.
Dedicate some time to getting to know your team members. What drives them professionally? Where do they see their career going? These tidbits will ultimately help you lead them better within the business.
If you are looking to better engage your team, it’s worth having a conversation about what engagement looks like.
Define engagement for your team
If you are looking to better engage your team, it’s worth having a conversation about what engagement looks like. How would your staff like you to help with engagement? What do they need to be more actively motivated in the roles? Once you have defined what engagement is for your business, start setting some realistic goals on how to improve. This clear communication can help make concrete targets for you and your team to aim for.
Employee engagement can make or break a business. Luckily, inspiring these levels of active participation is a leadership skill that can be learned. Interested in upping your abilities? Consider checking out a course with ICML today.