Organizations must choose to actively grow employee engagement in order to increase morale and productivity. When correctly implemented, employee engagement is a comprehensive, strategic approach that creates positive, lasting results.
Establishing and strengthening emotional bonds between organizations and their employees is not a new concept by any means. It goes without saying that today’s marketplace is extremely competitive and everyone could stand to increase their bottom line. Strategic advantages that set organizations apart from another are hard to come by. However, a distinctive factor each organization possesses is its employees with their unique backgrounds and experiences.
According to a report from the Gallup Organization, employee engagement falls into one of three levels:
Actively Disengaged – employees who are fundamentally disconnected from their job. Disengaged employees are not only unproductive, but their attitudes and perceptions spread through the company, resulting in poor performance, lowered job satisfaction and decreased productivity.
Not Engaged Employees – employees who simply come to work for a paycheck and complete their perceived job or functions for the company. Day in and day out, these employees are not cheerleaders for the company or its objectives; however, they are not obstacles either. In some instances, these employees are referred to as the “blind followers” or “sheep.” Who will they follow?
Actively Engaged – employees who stand out among the others. Actively engaged employees are strongly aligned with the organization’s objectives and goals, and they care about the company’s success. They are always looking for ways to improve the company, as well as themselves.
Managers must communicate and lead their employees toward the goals of the organization in order to facilitate engagement. Surveys show that many managers often fall short in effective communication. This situation must be remedied. When people understand company goals and the influence they have on their organization, they are more likely to embrace these goals as their own.
Employee engagement is a pressing topic for every industry. Engaged employees directly influence an organization’s bottom line. Employee engagement programs are responsible for improved financial results, increased customer satisfaction rates, higher productivity, and better employee retention rates. Companies can no longer choose to engage employees; it is a necessary element for survival. Engaged employees are vital to building a successful organization.
How Does Training and Development Fit Into Creating Engaged Employees?
Well-trained employees are the key to your business success. Studies have shown that the most successful, productive employees are those who have received extensive training. They are the best of the best, often having the strongest stake in the company’s future.
In an ideal world, you would be able to hire people who already possess the exact skills your business needs. But in today’s competitive labor market, demand for skilled workers far exceeds supply.
That is where training comes in. Not only does instruction arm your employees with needed professional or technical skills, but it also shows that you are invested in them and interested in bringing them with you into the company’s future. This helps keep workers motivated and involved.
It is easy for businesses to forget that in today’s world of high technology, people are and will continue to be the most important asset they have. However, many businesses give little thought to the importance of developing the talents of their employees, thus they lack the necessary development training.
People remain the most challenging aspect of any business and yet are the most critical to its success.