6-Ways-

Keeping employees engaged requires a multifaceted approach that will empower your workforce to be motivated and eager to learn. For instance, developing and nurturing a positive environment that creates a sense of purpose will keep your staff feeling connected to your organization. When staff members feel emotionally invested, they will feel more motivated to go above and beyond in their work.

Engaged employees are key to higher productivity and fostering a good workplace culture. There are many ways of helping employees stay engaged. The following top strategies will keep your staff excited and ready to show up for work every day.

 

1. Continuous Learning and Development

 

Maintaining employee engagement means investing time in continuous learning strategies. Having daily on-the-job bite-sized learning will build skills and create a connection to their role and the company's vision.

One of the most promising ways to keep employees engaged in modern workplace environments is to use a strategy called microlearning. Microlearning is an approach to training employees in which managers deliver personalized and bite-sized information, often straight to the mobile devices employees use every day.

For instance, Axonify, an AI-enablement solution that trains frontline employees, uses microlearning to make learning more fun and memorable. This platform boasts an unprecedented 83% of users who log in to train 2-3 times a week. Research shows that organizations that encourage a culture of continuous learning will witness:

  1. Higher levels of employee engagement
  2. Lower turnover rates
  3. Greater levels of innovation and flexibility

 

2. Two-Way Communication

 

Two-way communication systems create involvement and transparency, establishing a connection between employees and the organization in which employees both receive critical information from leadership and have the ability to provide employee feedback and on-the-ground insights for managers’ and executives’ consideration.

Businesses can leverage two-way communication channels and actively listen to employees' questions and feedback using a learning management system’s communication hub. Business managers and owners can also deliver top-down broadcast messages and announcements using this system that reach every employee, no matter where they are working. 

This type of communication will also facilitate check-ins between employees and managers, helping to highlight challenges early on and giving room for employees to raise their concerns.


3. Employee Recognition


Employee recognition goes a long way in promoting a culture of appreciation in the workplace. It also motivates individuals to stay engaged and active. Research shows that employees' contributions need to be adequately recognized at all levels to ensure organizations are able to enhance their performance. 

The following are effective ways to recognize employees in the workplace environment:

Implement a formal recognition program such as featuring an “Employee of the Month.”
Give out gift cards or rewards to employees for a job well done.
Offer bonuses or other financial incentives for employees who meet or excel in workplace goals.
Highlight an employee's achievements or awards using the company's social media channels.

Regularly celebrating achievements in a team setting can improve employee engagement and help with overall productivity. When employees are recognized on a regular basis, they are more likely to feel valued and motivated to do their jobs to the best of their ability.

 

4. Create a Sense of Purpose

 

Companies can increase employee engagement by showing team members that they are part of a bigger purpose. Some ways business owners can build a purpose-driven culture are:

Building a strong company culture: HR and L&D managers can build and reinforce a strong company culture by constantly reiterating the company's vision and values. For instance, JetBlue airline's mission is: "To inspire humanity—both in the air and on the ground." Employees who work for JetBlue are reminded of this mission through training programs and internal communication. This can positively affect their employees’ decision-making when carrying out their day-to-day roles.

Show employees the results of their work: Business managers can create a sense of purpose in the workplace by hosting periodic meetings that demonstrate the fruits of employees’ labor. This may involve pulling up graphs and explaining to employees in plain language how their work is directly affecting the company's success.

Give employees a certain amount of autonomy: Once an employee is onboarded and feels confident in their job, allow them a certain amount of autonomy to take ownership of their role. This could involve letting them have a say in their deadlines or allowing them more decision-making power when completing certain tasks.

Autonomy permits employees to be more accountable for their work. More autonomy and accountability will encourage workers to act in the organization's best interests. 


5. Create a Collaborative Work Environment


Employees working collaboratively with their coworkers is one of the most effective employee engagement strategies due to a phenomenon called shared leadership. Shared leadership helps employees take active accountability and ownership for the part they play in a team. Using collaborative tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or learning management systems (LMSs) can aid in communication and collaborative projects.

To give an example, a manager could send out an update about a new product and ask employees to form teams, share their ideas, and choose a representative to share the team’s feedback on the thread at the end of the day. When individuals work together, they will feel motivated to solve a problem for the greater good of the team. Working collaboratively can also create a sense of belonging.

 

6. Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance

 

Promoting a healthy work-life balance allows employees to develop both their professional life and their personal and family life. When companies recognize and respect an employee's personal life and boundaries, employees are more likely to be engaged while at work. This is because staff members can switch off while outside of work by doing the things they love and feel refreshed when they return to work. 

A few ways your company can encourage a healthy work-life balance are: 

Offer a flexible schedule for workers, letting them have more autonomy over how many hours they work and what days they will be scheduled. 
Encourage breaks and adhere to workplace policies around paid time off and personal leave.
Emphasize mental health and support employees with referrals for therapy, counseling services, etc.
Support students, parents, and individuals with special needs who require more flexible working arrangements or services. 

Studies show that when employees have a healthy work-life balance, they are much more likely to attract and retain top talent. The bottom line is that encouraging a good work-life balance has a significant impact on employees' general career satisfaction. This will not only keep employees more engaged but also make them much more likely to stay loyal to their employer in the long term.


Boost Your Business With Engaged Employees 

 

All your employees deserve to feel engaged within a company, as this feeling is important for workers to stay motivated in their positions. One of the best ways to keep employees engaged is by implementing ongoing learning strategies such as microlearning, which empowers employees to absorb information more effectively. Creating a two-way communication system will also encourage employees to stay engaged by allowing them to access, respond, and stay in the know wherever they are.

Recognizing employee achievements through both social media shoutouts and tangible incentives like bonuses or gift cards will sustain employee engagement levels. Finally, creating a sense of purpose and developing a collaborative workplace for employees that respects work-life boundaries will improve productivity and the overall success of your business.