The Art (and Science) Of Employee Engagement

Treating employees as integral parts of an organization is a simple HR solution and simple solutions are usually the best.

It's no secret that satisfied employees have higher morale in any organization, require lower labor costs and, ultimately, result in greater productivity and higher profits. However, many companies are unable or unwilling to break from the traditional management style that fails to place a premium on the overall well-being of their human resources.

For an analogy, we can look to sports. Imagine you're playing on the company softball team and you're tied in the final inning of the league championship game. With a runner on second, you get a base hit, which scores the winning run. That would be a very satisfying feeling, much more so than if you were sitting on the bench watching.

This is the same concept that goes into creating an environment where employees can thrive. An engaged employee is an employee who feels like he or she is an integral part of the team and is in tune with the overall goals of the organization. These employees will truly want your company to be successful and not just because they want to keep their jobs. They will be much more motivated on a daily basis because they feel that they are making a contribution.

One of the greatest benefits of having high employee morale is the money organizations save. As you might imagine, employees who are satisfied with their current positions are much less likely to leave for another job. Considering the high costs of recruiting, hiring and training new employees, this allows companies to have consistency in their workforce while not having to deal with the added headaches of regular turnover. In fact, replacing one experienced employee who earns $60,000 a year can cost a company twice that amount in replacement costs.

Achieving High Morale

In order to have engaged employees, senior management needs to set the tone and allow for a work environment where people can use their skills, talents and creativity to the best of their abilities.

The old way of thinking, and one that has severely hindered some of the world's biggest companies, is that all employees must conform to a strict set of standards determined by the highest levels of management. If they don't, they can easily be replaced. However, as many organizations have come to realize, employees who are treated as subordinates are much less productive than those who feel that they are an important part of a well-oiled machine.

A great alternative to the more traditional methods is for management to engage employees by coaching instead of dictating. By doing this, employees sense the attention being paid to them and feel that the company is investing in their work. This is not about playing favorites or boosting egos, but about letting employees know that they are an important piece of the puzzle. As a result, you will find that most employees will take advantage of the opportunity and use it to expand their knowledge and grow professionally.

Another great way to engage employees is to ensure that decisions are made at the lowest possible level in the organization. In some companies, all decisions are made at the management level and then managers wonder why morale is low and turnover is high. Enriching an employee's job - making it as deep as possible - is one of the best ways to boost his or her morale and ensure that they remain loyal to the organization.

Taking simple steps to improve employee morale will help you and your organization cut costs and improve productivity. Employees who look forward to coming to work will do what it takes to move the company forward.

by: Tom Stables

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