9 Proven Ways to Increase Employee Engagement

There’s nothing more harmful to the profitability and performance of a company than employees who are unmotivated and disengaged. These sentiments infuse the atmosphere with negativity, which then results in poor attitudes, high employee turnover, and, ultimately shakes the faith of your customers, as they begin to look elsewhere.

Conversely, a positive workplace environment engages employees from day one, resulting in excitement and dedication, which means profitability and production increase. Your company realizes success from the ground up, as your employees are energized by the positive environment, and the feeling of really making a difference. Your team becomes more focused on the goals set by leadership, and achievement becomes its own reward.

No Magic Bullets

Engaging your employees doesn’t just “happen”. There are no miraculous seminars that automatically create the authentic bond necessary for a cohesive team to thrive. Employee engagement takes dedication and commitment on the part of leadership, all the way up to, and including, C level executives. Employee engagement won’t happen overnight, but, as you implement these 9 proven ways to engage your employees, you’ll find your team members become more focused, positive, and productive.

1. Begin at The Highest Level

When leadership models desired behaviors such as demonstrating a positive attitude, availability, eagerness to help, and recognizing achievements, the results are impressive indeed. Employees are 55% more engaged and 53% more focused. Leadership can increase productivity, and ensure employee loyalty and job satisfaction, simply by “walking the walk”.

2. Management Must be Transparent

Instilling a sense of trust between leadership and employees is one of the best ways to keep your team engaged. Institute and “open door policy” and encourage your team members to come to you with problems, concerns, and suggestions. Listen, give people a chance to take initiative and help out as you can. Cooperation, support and a feeling of camaraderie will encourage your team to be engaged, and will fulfill a deeper satisfaction, and a desire to succeed.

3. Be Present

Leadership, especially C-level, must be present, accessible and visible around the office, approachable and recognizable to the team. Motivate your team members by publicly commenting on their successes, encourage employees and recognize them for their work. Keep an ongoing dialogue with team members, so they know you’re aware of the projects and activities taking place.

4. Express Gratitude

Demonstrate how much you value your employees by learning to say “thank you”. You may feel you already show your team how much they’re appreciated by the little ‘perks’ you give them, such as 1/2 day Fridays, social gatherings, lunch on the boss, and the like, but for your employees to truly feel an atmosphere of appreciation, you need to speak it. Tell your team members how grateful you are for a job well-done, or simply the effort they’re putting into a certain project.

5. Start with Engagement

When a new member is added to the team, don’t begin by shutting them away to watch training programs, or complete the necessary paperwork. Bring them all-in from day one. Actively engage the new hire as a valued member of the team and capitalize on their curiosity and enthusiasm. Let the energy your newbie feels on day one become contagious as your team engages with one another.

6. Be Genuine

One of the greatest gifts you can give your employees is the gift of being human. Show them your authentic side and let your personality-with all of it’s human characteristics-shine through. When your team members and employees see you as relatable, satisfaction is improved and engagement becomes organic.

7. Flexibility is Key

Your trust will be rewarded as team members rise to the occasion and naturally become more productive. A willingness to work with your employees demonstrates your faith in them to do the right thing.

8. Development is Necessary

Training, learning and development need to be constant and consistent in order to keep your team members engaged. Let your employees know that you’re invested in their success as well as the success of the company by helping them reach their full potential. Happy and focused employees are always willing to better themselves by staying sharp. The payoff is a team member-or members-whose dedication and excitement has been reignited and whose passion will serve to reignite the rest of the team as well.

9. Play More

Play has oftentimes has a PR problem. Some think of play as pointless, a distraction, or a waste of time. In the workplace, play is often viewed as a break from “real work.” What if the opposite of play isn’t work, what if it’s boredom and disengagement? What if work could actually benefit from play?

Play increases employee engagement. Don’t neglect ‘playtime’ as a positive tool for increasing engagement among your team members. Everyone needs to blow off steam and some of the most successful team building and bonding moments occur away from the office, or, at the very least, away from the routine and day to day tedium.

Call an early day and gather the team to go enjoy a recreational event. Have monthly ‘theme days’ such as ‘ugly holiday sweater day” or “favorite college team day”. Most of all encourage everyone to enjoy work and get in the game yourself. You’ll be surprised by the fun and good times you will create as you strengthen your relationship with team members.

Trust Your Team

Anytime positive results are desired in companies, as in life, growth must occur and some changes are going to be, inevitably, painful. You may need to take a look at the employees who show an unwillingness to engage, or lack the desire to share in your company’s mission and possibly, see that they move to a more suitable position/employer.

When your employees are focused on the mission of your company, united as a team themselves, and engaged across the board, everyone wins. Furthermore, the excitement and energy of your engaged employees becomes exponential, ensuring the same for future associates.