Regardless of an organisation’s size or sector, employee satisfaction is incredibly important. Although each member of staff will be motivated by something different, whether it is receiving a hefty pay-packet or being of assistance to customers in need, every employee requires fulfilment at the end of the day.
But while various companies will have certain initiatives in place to ensure its workforce remain content, several overlook the importance of engagement. In many respects, this should be taking greater precedence than employee satisfaction, as the advantages are extensive and the facts speak for themselves.
On a LinkedIn blog post, leadership and employee engagement coach Ron McIntrye, revealed:
Engaged employees outperform disengaged employees by 20-28 per cent – “This allows for increases in operating income, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth.”
Businesses with more engaged employees have 51 per cent higher productivity – “All you have to do is think about when you are personally most engaged then translate that to your people.”
Engaged employees take less time off, averaging 3.5 days a year on average – “When you couple this thought with a well-developed well-being program for your staff the results could be exciting for all sectors of your business.”
But if these facts and figures aren’t convincing enough, here are 5 more reasons why you should be talking about employee engagement.
Engaged employees will deliver more at work
Even though we have already touched upon productivity, engaged employees can deliver more than just an increase in numbers. In fact, members of staff that are actively involved with their responsibilities will be much more innovative too.
This is because they will feel much more comfortable and accepted for who they are and what they are doing at work. Engaged employees will be the first to suggest how to improve the company’s products or where enhancements to customer service can be made.
On top of that, innovative employees are much more flexible and willing to make things work rather than giving up and jumping ship at the first opportunity. As a result, you will save time and money on projects that require a little bit of tweaking before succeeding.
Engaged employees will be more loyal
If you are constantly coming up with ways to involve your employees in big decisions or giving them control over their own destiny, they will feel much more valued and less likely to leave.
Not only can this lead to a more efficient and prosperous business, as members of staff will truly understand the company culture and feel passionate about making a difference, it is also extremely cost-effective. There will be no need to hire, onboard, and train new staff when you’ve lost previous personnel through failing to engage.
Loyal employees can also lead to a spike in turnover and profit margins too. Regular clients and customers will appreciate seeing or dealing with a familiar face every time they make a purchase and are also more likely to keep on returning too.
Engaged employees will be better team players
People power is incredibly important for most businesses and success often comes down to whether members of staff are pulling together in the same direction. But with a workforce of engaged employees, this is a distinct possibility.
Through greater involvement and better communication with fellow colleagues, your workforce will always be on the same page. They can brainstorm ideas together, solve problems collectively, provide assistance when needed or even criticise if appropriate.
On the other side of the coin, disengaged employees won’t feel like helping out their peers in times of need. They won’t see the point in contributing if it doesn’t benefit their own situation, leading to a less prosperous organisation.
Engaged employees will understand how the business works
If your employees are more involved with how the business works, then they will become more astute and develop a strong set of commercial skills. From understanding what can generate a bigger profit to identifying cost reduction opportunities, this knowledge has an untold amount of advantages.
Some managers and supervisors may be reluctant to disclose certain pieces of financial information, but that doesn’t mean to say engaged employees can’t help out from a commercial perspective.
Simply explain how their input could make a difference and harness the power of an engaged employee’s innovative mind-set. Even if they are a low-ranking member of staff, you never know what insights or enlightenment you could be missing out on.
Engaged employees will become an intrinsic part of the business
In spite of an individual’s career goals or aspirations, if they find a company that appreciates and values their contributions on a daily basis, it will become difficult to leave. Before long, they are an intrinsic part of the business.
So, along with greater productivity and more innovation, this engaged employee won’t want to leave and will do everything they can to help the business grow and improve. All the while, they will encourage other team members to contribute too and offer up support or feedback when required.
Finally, the business should start increasing its turnover and profit margins, as this engaged employee has learnt all about the commercial side of things from greater involvement.
So, it is easy to see why you should be talking about employee engagement. Even though you will have an abundance of other responsibilities to worry about, it is dangerous to underestimate the difference involved and connected members of staff can make.
