When it comes to running a successful business, having leadership that encourages engagement among team members is a must have. In a recent Gallup study, it was proven that highly engaged businesses see a 10% increase in customer ratings and a 20 percent increase in sales. Those are numbers that could really benefit your businesses bottom line and reputation.
In order to help engage team members, we’ve crafted 4 best practices that your managers can implement to build stronger engagement and shape a successful future:
Get to Know Your Team
Engaging your team starts by understanding them – because you can’t cater to people you don’t know.
Whether you hold events outside office hours or have lunch break activities, taking the time out of your day to get to know your team members on a more personal level will help build a strong relationship that keeps them engaged. For instance, showing up to work on their birthday with a cake or holding a pizza party every week with your team’s favourite toppings are ways you can boost employee morale. The more cared for and personally connected employees feel, the more inclined they are to be engaged at work and go above and beyond.
Check In On Them Consistently – And Implement Feedback.
Receiving and implementing feedback is pivotal to business success. Not only does it help improve operations but it also shows your team members that you care about their experience at work.
A recent OfficeVibes study revealed the importance of feedback, stating that “43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week compared to only 18% with low engagement.” Although highly engaged employees have proven to be more productive, the extensive issue remains; managers still lack the ability to properly enforce feedback.
Checking in on your team members should be a regular practice within your business. If an employee has concerns with aspects of their job, having a one on one meeting can help address those concerns to not only engage the employee but also retain them.
Make The Workplace Fun
In order for team members to be engaged in the workplace, they have to enjoy being there. No employee wants to do their best at a job they don’t enjoy.
One method a manager can implement to make the workplace a more fun and engaging place is by implementing gamification. Gamification is a technique introducing elements of game playing such as competition and point scoring to motivate employees. It can be used for setting and meeting targets, facilitating training, and continuously educating employees.
By implementing gamification, brands are more likely to see lower rates of turnover, improved productivity, and better online reviews. It’s a promising way to ensure team members have fun at work and are engaged.
Be Transparent and Set Clear Goals
As a manager, it is your duty to set and communicate clear team member goals so you can not only measure business success but also ensure that employees have a purpose in the workplace.
In the aforementioned OfficeVibes study it was revealed that only “40% of the workforce actually knew about their company’s goals, strategies, and tactics.” This is damaging, not only to the employees worth ethic but your businesses success as a whole.
Having an objective ensures your team members are actually working towards something and your business is heading towards a successful future. You can initiate goal setting by explaining goals when onboarding team members and, as previously stated, following up with them consistently. The more transparent you are with your team members on the future of the company and their role, the more motivated they’ll be to attain said goals.
As a manager, getting to know your employees, checking in on them, making the workplace fun, and setting clear goals aren’t just benefits for engagement but for your company as a whole. With the potential to surge revenue and retain employees, implementing our employee engagement best practices shouldn’t be an afterthought but a necessity.
