Anyone else have a complicated life? Though I'm still a young man, the amount of stressors and 'things-to-do' is constantly a pressure. My wife and son, work, master's classes, church, chores at home, time to study, reflect and write blogs (!) all compete for my time, and my guess is all of you experience this very thing as well.
Our employees are no different, and though we all spend much of our time working, so many other responsibilities are knocking at the door that sometimes it is hard to fully engage. I had a teacher one time pose the question, 'We're all responsible for how present we are going to be here in class today: How engaged will you be?' This is a great question to have in our minds as we go about our daily lives.
It is tempting to put our job on auto-pilot, especially if you're smart, or good at your job, or have been working for a long time. My guess is we are all guilty of this at one point in time or another. The goal is an efficient and energized workforce. Fortunately, there are some practical, concrete things that you can do to help maximize your employee engagement:
Assessments: Assessments provide engagement on two different levels. First, they give the employee the opportunity to have a voice and contribute their insights. Most people like to know that their opinions are important and carry weight, and that their leaders are paying attention to what they are saying. Second, assessments can help leaders better understand where their people are, their strengths and weaknesses, information about where the organization or role could be improved, and the shape of the culture.
Development Plans: Personalized development plans are great ways to engage employees, as they help you identify those individuals who are invested in the organization and looking to improve their skill set and gifts. Development plans give the employee a roadmap for upward mobility, showing them that the company sees potential and is going to help them grow. It is a huge boost in morale, especially for millennials and younger employees.
Process Reviews: A process review analyzes the systems and processes within your organization to look for redundancy, inefficiency, or opportunities for technological improvement. Employees who have streamlined processes are more engaged and more efficient than those who have unwieldy systems.
Fun:Having fun should not be underestimated in producing maximally engaged employees. A workplace where employees can have appropriate fun and enjoyment helps facilitate teamwork, shared responsibility, and effective conflict resolution, as well as fostering a culture of respect and trust.
Hopefully these few tactics will get you started on maximally engaging your employees. As always, check out our blog regularly for new posts!
-Tyler