Too often are the feelings of employees disregarded and maybe even sacrificed while searching for ways to improve the experience for customers and clients. While it is important to keep your customers satisfied, it is equally as important to make sure your employees are happy working for you.
71% of executives state that employee engagement is critical to the success of their company. But why is this? Keep reading to find out more.
Why?
Productivity
Employees are usually more productive when they feel that they are being heard. Being heard will make them feel more engaged and highly engaged employees are 300% more likely to say they feel heard at their workplace than highly disengaged employees. Companies with high employee engagement are 21% more profitable.
Furthermore, 74% of employees say that they are generally more effective at their job when they feel heard.
Moreover, one study discovered that, while companies are looking for new methods to improve, 82% of their staff members have ideas that could potentially be the solution the company needs to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, however, that same study found that more than 33% of staffers think their company doesn’t listen to their ideas for improvement. This means that companies could be missing out on vital information/solutions simply due to overlooking their employees.
Morale
Generally, more engagement leads to improved levels of morale in the workplace. This in turn means a reduction in absenteeism. A study even shows that highly engaged workplaces saw 41% lower absenteeism rates. It does not just affect absenteeism.
Turnover would also be an issue as it has also been studied and reported that half of all employees who stated they did not feel valued at work, intended to look for a new job in the coming year. This in turn could lead to higher costs. After all, it costs significantly more to take on and train a new hire than to keep on an existing employee. This translates to your company losing a very hard to ignore sum of money each time an employee walks out the door. This can be greatly reduced just by making them feel heard.
How?
Surveys
If you are concerned that your employees may not be ready to announce that they have their own concerns but still want to find out then a simple questionnaire or engagement survey can help to measure how invested your employees are in the company. It can show you where you can improve and if this is done regularly, you’ll be able to track your progress more effectively.
These are particularly effective before, after, or during a major change or event in the company. Major changes can be scary enough without having to worry about how your employees will feel about it but with the successful use of surveys, you’ll have better insight into their thoughts on the matter.
Recognition
This is a major factor when it comes to whether employees feel seen/heard. Simply by giving them a pat on the back after a job well done or by starting up the occasional conversation with them, it shows that they are valued as people and not just faceless drones.
Employees simply want to be seen as individuals and treated as such. This will boost their morale and we discussed above how important morale is.
Ask for their input
As good as your company may be, there will always be things that can be done better. Even the most menial or trivial tasks or operations could be improved somehow. This is where you can get your employees involved. Show that you care about their opinions and ask them how they think things could be improved. Not only will they feel as though their ideas are valued, but you’ll also find new ways to innovate and improve.
And you don’t just have to ask about what can be improved about the company’s operations. You can even just ask how they feel about their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. Give them opportunities to vent or simply just get to know them.
Basically, it boils down to caring for your employees and valuing them as an essential part of the company. Listen to them and reward them for their hard and/or exemplary work. Show them that they matter and by doing so, it’s all but guaranteed that your organisation will benefit from more satisfied employees.
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