The power of employee engagement
Category Commercial and Industrial News
A contract of employment creates a physical commitment from an employee to turn up and do their job. It is employee engagement, however, that provides an emotional connection between your company and its employees and inspires them to do their best - rather than the bare minimum - for you. 3Cube Property Solutions looks at the reasons for engaging your employees as part of your smart HR strategies and how to do it.
What does an engaged employee look like?
A marketing executive who voluntarily stays an extra hour when things are busy, rather than clock-watching and leaving the minute they are allowed to; a factory worker who will pick up rubbish lying around even when no one is watching; a receptionist who answers the phone when their shift has already ended - these are examples of engaged employees.
Such employees serve your business in many ways. Obviously, their "engagedness" makes them more efficient and getting their jobs done. However, their genuine happiness also leads to other benefits, such as higher service levels and customer satisfaction, increased sales and ultimately higher profits. Contentment breeds contentment, and having a contented, engaged employee dealing with a customer makes it more likely that they will become a repeat customer.
How can employers drive engagement?
According to Tom Salonek, the founder and CEO of a US-based technology consulting and training firm, as cited in BizJournals, the first step to driving employee engagement is aligning goals and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Salonek explains that at Intertech, new recruits are given an employee checklist that includes the company's overall financial and strategic goals and outlines exactly where the new employee fits into that bigger picture.
The second factor referenced by Salonek is team trust, which is built over time through social events, volunteer outings and other non-work-related events. He stresses the importance of not objecting to staff members occasionally indulging in chatter or non-work-related activities during work time.
To pave the way to greater success, it is necessary to make mistakes - and engaged employees need to know that they will not be vilified for making mistakes. A great way to do this is to have transparency right from the top of the management structure so that staff members see that everyone - from the CEO to the cleaner - is empowered to own their mistakes and learn from them.
Google: a case study
When looking for an example of a global company doing employee engagement right, Google is a natural case study. Having regularly featured on Fortune's list of "best companies to work for" and with a 4.4 rating on Google, the technology powerhouse is undoubtedly a great place to work. But what makes it so?
According to an independent case study, exclusive perks are one of the ways that Google keeps their employees engaged. While offering such perks is unlikely to be possible for small companies, Google offers a range of benefits from free food, free dry cleaning and subsidised massages to hybrid car subsidies, in-house nap pods and gym memberships.
While offering these types of benefits is likely impracticable for most companies, Google's high rate of employee engagement is also brought about by less cost-intensive means. These include providing flexibility, creating a positive and creative atmosphere, providing opportunities for career development and encouraging collaboration.
To provide meaningful employee engagement, you need a company that feels stable and reliable to work for. Having the right premises is an important part of creating that stability. For help in finding the right premises for your business in Gauteng, contact 3Cube Property Solutions today.
Author: 3Cube Property Solutions
