Employee Engagement

Low unemployment rates indicate a stable economy and booming business, right? But it also brings a new level of stress for companies as they battle to attract, and then retain the talent they need
That’s where employee engagement enters the stage. It’s not just a buzz word – it’s the #1 tool for building a talented, loyal team. In fact, studies reveal that strong employee engagement brings with it many benefits including increased, more effective productivity and happier, healthier staff, which in turn, boosts your bottom line.
Okay, so how do you turn this “buzz word” into your power tool?
Establish the “why” of your business. Your brand. We’re not talking about money – we’re talking about purpose, mission, and values.
·         Why was the business created?
·         What is your purpose in the big picture?
·         What is your mission statement – that one-three sentence statement that lets everyone know who you are and why you do what you do?
·         Where have you set the bar?
·         What are the best-practices you operate on to achieve your mission?
Connect your employees to your “why” via your culture. According to SnackNation’s guide to employee engagement in 2018, your culture is both functional and intangible.
On the one hand,
“Culture manifests in observable things like hours, dress code, benefits, workspace, turnover, hiring, and customer care and satisfaction.”
But on the other hand,
“Culture is a feeling or a vibe, the mood and energy people bring in each day, the language they use, the mindset they adopt, and the methods they use to solve problems.”
Bonding your employees with your culture—connecting them with your purpose and mission—requires consistent commitment. It begins with active communication that includes employees in the loop, builds trust, and gives legitimacy to your culture.
Strong, healthy workplace communication doesn’t just happen.
It involves:
·         Specific planning and intentional actions.
·         Listening – seeking and paying attention to employee feedback.
·         Choosing the right communications for the purpose.
·         Authenticity and transparency.
It includes:
·         Accurate, detailed job descriptions that express what an open position will involve – the ideal candidate you’re seeking and when an individual is hired, provides a clear expectation of their responsibilities.
·         Clearly defined roles that ensure your employees know their work is a valuable part of the company mission
·         Consistent goal-setting, including the tools to obtain goals, checkpoints to clarify progress, and both encouragement/appreciations along the way and recognition when goals are met.
Building a culture that remains consistent in every arena follows communication. From creating a workspace that is conducive to responsibilities as well as promoting teamwork to fostering a sense of community and loyalty among workers, upholding your mission and values is a strategic component and gives you a competitive advantage. This can be achieved by:
·         Encouraging an atmosphere of fun and caring where employees are working not only for a common goal but also for each other.
·         Appreciation and recognition are a consistent part of the package.
·         Personal growth is encouraged via opportunities, in-house advancement, and financial assistance with continued education, as well as on-the-job training and regular workshops.
·         Establishing your business as a company who gives back and involving your employees in the process. From recognize those who volunteer to seeking employee feedback on which charities to support to sponsoring a company give-back activity where everyone plays a role in a community event, giving builds purpose and unites your team.
·         Encourage your employees to build health and wellness via voluntary participation community physical fitness opportunities, healthy options in the break room, and taking full advantage of your vacation program.
Finally, remember that upholding company values and engaging employees begins at the top and is fully enacted by middle managers—they are the most consistent direct contact with your employees. Communicate your vision, mission, values, etc. to management staff and educate them on engagement philosophies and principles. Select managers wisely. Choose not only on performance skills but even more importantly on leadership skills.
To truly compete in the war for talent, companies must focus on employee engagement – as a day to day experience, not just a plan on paper. According to Human Resources Today.
“Whether you’re just now designing your employee engagement platform or fine-tuning it, you’ve got to think holistically and create an experience that supports your employees’ entire career path – unless you want it to be with another company.”
 Looking for employees to engage? Connect with Lingo Staffing. We speak the language of On Demand solutions.
About Lingo Staffing
Lingo is a full-service staffing firm dedicated to providing top quality services to its clients and its candidate pool. With extensive knowledge and experience in light industrial, administrative, and professional employment, Lingo encompasses the capabilities and resources necessary to help you get ahead.
Our experience and commitment to client satisfaction make us the perfect choice to manage all of your staffing needs. Our staff guarantees exceptional customer service with an expedient response time.
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