Communication is key to employee engagement

The benefits that an engaged workforce brings to the business are noticeable in a very tangible way. Engaged employees feel a sense of attachment towards their employer investing themselves not only in their role, but in the company as a whole and are fully supportive of its goals and values.

Conversely, the disengaged employee displays a lack of commitment to their role because of feeling disconnected or disengaged from the company itself.

There is a no ‘one size fits all’ approach to enabling engagement, because levels of engagement and its drivers vary according to the company, employee group, the individual and the job itself.

Here are 7 top tips for improving engagement.

1. Company culture  
   Engagement can’t be imposed from above; it’s about creating a cultural shift in the way a company or organisation behaves. Clear channels of communication with regards to where the company is heading, including current goals and objectives should be in place. Further communication should be a continuous process, which means employers should constantly be sharing new information with their employees, to encourage an open and honest working culture. Sharing company values helps cultivate a sense of direction so that employees understand what is expected of them and how their values align. Values that are lived and not just spoken, lead to a greater sense of trust and integrity.
2. Employee Voice
   Allow employees to voice their views and concerns – and address them. Two-way communication is vital in business. Nothing is more damaging than unsubstantiated rumours or ill-feeling.
3. Value your People
   Show you value the contribution your people make by giving them the power, the responsibility, and the trust to do so. Encourage their ideas for innovations and improvements. And importantly, give them proper consideration. After all, they’re the ones in the front line and know better than anyone what can make a difference.
4. Leadership
   Good Leadership means having a clear vision of the future and effectively communicating this to employees. Integrity is key, which leads to our next three points.
5. Fulfil your promises
   We have all heard of the ‘talk is cheap’ cliché, but this is no less true when it comes to team engagement. Employees will soon spot lip service and harbour a distrust of what you’re telling them if you don’t keep to your promises.
6. Healthy people are engaged people
   Promote employee wellbeing, this shows you genuinely care about your employees’ well being and not just their productivity or output.
7. Think long-term engagement
   Engagement is something that requires constant attention and should never be viewed as a “one-off” project or piece of work in which a box is ticked. An individual’s level of engagement can vary depending on what is happening around them and changes in the workplace may often affect an employee’s attitude towards their role and the business.

True engagement works both ways. To engage employees, employers must also be engaged and stay connected with both their business and their employees.

Communication is the key to employee engagement. Simply broadcasting your intentions to your team is not enough. The business world is full of good intentions with poor follow-through. If you would like some more practical advice on engaging with your team please let us know by calling us on 01473 360160 or visiting our contact page.