We speak to lots of business owners and probably one of the most complicated aspects of running a business is people management.
A successful business relies on having the support of an effective team, but how do you go about ensuring that you have a successful team of passionate, creative and committed employees?
That’s the million-dollar question and anyone who has ever had a tricky employee to manage will know just how hard it can be. The key to that success is having people who are completely engaged with work, the company, its vision and what you are trying to achieve.
Just one disengaged member of staff can soon have a negative impact on the whole workplace if it’s not managed effectively.
So just how do you improve employee engagement?
As with most things in business, there is no one hard and fast rule that will solve the problem because what works for one company, or one employee, may not work for others.
However, there are some general measures you can implement quickly to set the right tone from day one, or to get things moving in the right direction. For more tailored support programmes to tackle any issues particular to your business, your ActionCoach can help.
Good communication
If you want employees to be engaged, the most important thing you can do is engage them. This means communicating with them openly, honestly and regularly. And it works two ways. If your employees can see you are being honest with them, they are more likely to be honest with you. When businesses operate under a shroud of secrecy, this often leads to rumour, negativity and bad feeling.
Teamwork
While you of course want your teams to work well together, that has to be led from the top. If your employees feel part of your team and how you want your business to be run, they will be more engaged with the agenda. This means seeking their feedback, asking their opinions and allowing them to help shape visions and goals. The most engaged employees are the ones who feel their opinions are valued and will be listened to.
Be flexible
Engaged workers need to enjoy work and anything you can do to improve their work/life balance will be highly valued. One sure fire method is to give them flexibility within their roles, whether that’s where they work or when they work. People tend to be a lot more productive (and engaged and happy) when they have a job they can also fit around their lives.
Working environment
When we are at work, we want the experience to be as enjoyable as possible. This relates to the physical environment as much as the work itself and means creating as comfortable a workplace as possible. Things like flickering lights, broken air conditioning units, blocked drains and unreliable equipment can have a significant impact on staff morale and are worth addressing as soon as possible.
Staff development
Having plans in place that enable your employees to develop and progress in their skills can also help keep them engaged. This could take the form of training programmes and qualifications, new responsibilities or special projects to deliver. Regular personal development reviews can be a really successful tool in touching base with your employees to see where they are at, if they are happy in their work, any challenges they see in their role and how they would like to progress.
Rewards
It’s an obvious one and an easy one to deliver, but we all like to be rewarded for our efforts. Whether that takes the shape of a formal reward scheme, weekly breakfast on the company, or a simple ‘well done’ at a team meeting, recognising success and achievements will go a long way to improving employee engagement.
These are some of the quick basics, but if your problems are more complicated, it might help to get a second opinion. Contact Gary Wagstaff ActionCOACH for more help with improving employee engagement.
