What Is Employee Engagement & How Can Communication Help?
Employee engagement can boost productivity and retention, but how do you improve it within your workplace? In this article, our experts outline ways to improve engagement, and answer your commonly asked internal communications questions.
So, what is meant by ‘employee engagement’?
Employee engagement refers to the emotional connection and commitment that employees have towards their work, their organisation, and their colleagues. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, innovative, and loyal to their employer.
What are a few simple ways to improve employee engagement?
A few ways to improve employee engagement include: providing regular feedback and recognition, encouraging employee development and involvement, creating clear goals and expectations, communicating effectively, and providing opportunities for greater work-life balance.
What Are the Characteristics Of Employee Engagement?
Some key characteristics of employee engagement are:
An emotional connection to one’s work and organisation
Commitment to the company’s goals and values
Motivation to perform at a high level
A sense of ownership and accountability over one’s work
Alignment with the organisation's mission and vision.
Engaged employees are more likely to be satisfied with their work and therefore, less likely to leave their roles. They also tend to be more productive and contribute to their organisation’s overall success.
Why is Employee Engagement Important?
Below are some eye-catching stats, showing just how important Employee Engagement can be, as reported by Wellable.
Retention
Highly engaged employees are 87% less likely to leave their employer.
Productivity
Companies with a highly engaged workforce are 21% more profitable and 17% more productive than those with disengaged staff.
Work Ethic
69% of employees report that they would work harder if they felt more appreciated at work.
Five Ways To Improve Employee Engagement
Encouraging employee engagement can be done in several ways. We’ve outlined a few strategies below, but pick and choose depending on your orgnisatation’s characteristics:
Give Recognition
Giving recognition is a simple but powerful way to improve employee engagement. By recognising employees for their contributions and achievements, organisations can increase job satisfaction, motivation, and productivity.
Recognition programmes should be timely, specific, and personalised, and can take many forms such as verbal praise, written notes, or tangible rewards.
Encourage Collaboration
Encouraging collaboration is a proven way to improve employee engagement. By promoting teamwork, communication, and idea-sharing, employees feel more connected and motivated.
Collaboration can be fostered through cross-functional teams, team-building activities, and open communication channels.
Hybrid & Flexible Working
Hybrid and flexible working is a modern approach that can improve employee engagement. It allows employees to work from home, in the office, or a combination of both. This approach provides employees with greater autonomy and work-life balance, reducing stress and commuting time.
Hybrid and flexible working can attract and retain top talent, increase productivity, and reduce office costs. However, maintaining communication, collaboration, and accountability are important in this approach.
Ask For Feedback
Asking for feedback is an effective way to improve employee engagement. By asking employees for their opinions, concerns, and suggestions, organisations can demonstrate that they value their input and are committed to their development.
Feedback can be solicited through various methods, such as surveys, one-on-one meetings, or suggestion boxes. This approach helps employees feel heard and appreciated, leading to increased motivation and job satisfaction. Asking for feedback can also help identify areas for improvement and lead to positive changes in the wider organisation.
Internal Communication
Internal communication is a crucial factor in improving employee engagement. Effective communication helps employees feel informed, involved, and connected to their place of work.
Organisations can promote internal communication by establishing clear channels for information sharing, such as regular company-wide meetings, newsletters, or intranet sites.
How Does Internal Communication Improve Employee Engagement?
Open communication and transparency can help build trust and foster a positive work culture. Consistent communication can also help set clear expectations, encourage collaboration, and promote employee development. This, in turn, improves employee engagement, productivity, and retention.
Engaging with a PR agency for your internal communication can save you time and stress while providing an outside perspective. With a fresh pair of eyes, agencies can often get straight to the crux of an issue and help you communicate change in the best way possible.
Internal Communications Consultancy From Altitude PR
Altitude is a reliable partner to help you create a comprehensive and efficient internal communication strategy. With experience working with some of the UK's foremost brands, we understand the challenges of communication and can simplify the process for you.
Our experts can help you identify your key messages and target audiences and assist you in selecting the most effective communication channels, whilst our creative team can develop eye-catching campaigns to enhance both internal and external communications.
Our strategy is informed by Kotter's Eight Steps to Change model, which enables us to enhance brand recognition and loyalty, increase customer satisfaction and optimise supply chain management. We also specialise in improving internal communication to drive staff retention, productivity, and profitability. Whatever changes you wish to make, we can guide you to achieving those aspirations.
If you want to learn more about our services, feel free to reach out to us for a chat. We can arrange an online call, or discuss things over a coffee. Get in touch for an internal communication consultation.
Related Questions
How Do You Measure Employee Engagement?
Employee Engagement can be measured in a number of ways, such as surveys, focus groups, and interviews. In surveys, questions will discuss job satisfaction and motivation, as well as opportunities for growth and development.
Other indicators of employee engagement include attendance, productivity and turnover rates. The data collected from these methods can provide valuable insights into the overall level of engagement within organisations, and identify areas for improvement.
How Can You Engage Remote Employees?
To engage remote employees, organisations can use regular communication such as feedback and recognition, to ensure they feel involved in everyday work life. Meanwhile, the use of online collaboration tools and virtual team-building exercises, or scheduling regular in-person activities, will encourage greater engagement.