Engaging employees

NO matter what your business, your employees are the backbone of your company. When they’re happy and productive, sales will flourish; however, if employees don’t feel valued, respected, or listened to, their dissatisfaction will come across to your customers. As a result, your business may suffer. 

To keep your organisation on track, you need to engage your employees for optimum performance and greater job satisfaction. Studies show that engaged employees:

• Are more likely to stay
• Are more productive
• Maintain profitable customer relationships
• Serve as advocates for your organisation

According to a study by the Corporate Leadership Council, employees with the highest levels of commitment perform 20% better and are 87% less likely to leave the organisation. 

Delegates enjoying themselves at a previous year’s Pre-conference Workshop.

Employee engagement means making people feel valued by involving them in decisions, asking them to participate in the planning process, praising them, and continually providing adequate training and support. It’s giving your employees the opportunity to contribute to the company’s overall success. 

When you allow your employees to think independently and assist the company, they will respond with increased work effort and greater efficiency. The following are four keys to employee engagement that can help your company grow. 

1 Involve your employees in the decision-making process 

You can keep morale high and engage your employees by involving them in business decisions that directly relate to them. For example, if your company is considering a dress code change, allow your employees to voice their opinions on the new dress code and offer suggestions for portraying a more professional image. Encouraging their input makes them feel a part of the team and contributors to the company’s overall success. 

2 Involve your employees in the planning process 

Whenever possible, allow your employees to take an active role in planning the company’s future. Instead of simply declaring a new sales goal your employees need to reach, ask your sales team to come up with their own realistic monthly goals and a plan to reach that number. When employees take an active role in the planning process, they know their input matters to the company’s bottom line. Additionally, they’ll be more apt to strive to meet the goal if they set it themselves and laid out a plan to reach it. 

3 Offer praise freely 

When was the last time you praised an employee for a job well done? In too many companies, managers inadvertently neglect to offer praise on a regular basis. As a result, many employees are left to wonder how their performance rates. Without such guidance they can easily become uncertain about their job requirements and their ability to handle challenging situations. 

When your employees know they are doing a good job, they will want to repeat the process again and again. They’ll also be more willing to try new ideas and challenges to meet your customers’ needs. The result will be motivated employees who are eager to help the company grow. 

4 Provide continual training and support 

If you want your employees to feel confident in their abilities, they need the proper job training and support. Many companies offer an introductory training period when a new employee comes on board, but training then stops after a certain length of time. Provide ongoing training and coaching for employees at all levels so they can gain greater competence, overcome performance barriers and be more effective in their jobs. 

Enable your employees to succeed by giving them the means, opportunity and capacity they need to excel. The result is growth, innovation and satisfaction. If your employees feel important, they’ll transfer those feelings to your customers through improved service and ultimately, greater sales. 

So if you want your company to grow to new heights, engage your employees by creating an environment where people are encouraged to explore, discover, take risks and think for themselves. Engaged employees will always rise to the occasion, do the best job possible, and help you compete in the global marketplace. 

Article by Karen Lawson, PhD, CSP. 

About the author
Karen Lawson is an international consultant, professional speaker, executive coach, and author of 12 books. As founder and president of Lawson Consulting Group, Inc., based in the United States, she has builta consulting firm specialising in organisation and management development. Dr Lawson conducts seminars on leadership, team development, communications and quality service. 

Dr Lawson will be speaking at the 9th Asia HRD Congress from July 6 to 9 at the Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching, Sarawak. She will be leading a full-day workshop on “Leadership Accountability” and deliveringa session entitled, “Growing Greatness: How to Cultivate the Truly Outstanding Leader in You.” 

For details, call Zaid 03-2279 9199 or Jennifer 082-625 166. Also visit the Asia HRD Congress 2010 website: www.hrdconcongress.com