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6 Tips for boosting employee engagement

02 November 2023

Derived from discussions with numerous HR managers across different industries, we have gathered concrete suggestions for enhancing employee engagement.

Motivated employees play a vital role in fostering a positive work environment, amplifying productivity, and reducing absenteeism. This, in turn, not only elevates the overall workplace atmosphere but also enhances the quality of your service. Maintaining high levels of engagement can be particularly challenging in an era when remote work from home is prevalent.

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1. Foster social connections

If you notice that employees are finding it challenging to adapt to remote work, consider organising team-building events or encouraging virtual collaboration through video calls. Social interactions can help mitigate feelings of isolation when working from home. Create opportunities for colleagues to connect in informal settings, such as a cozy coffee break area or chill-out space. A welcoming environment cultivates a more relaxed form of communication.

To preserve a familial atmosphere in your company, it is essential to maintain ongoing conversations. Regularly communicate with your employees and ensure you stay connected. Structuring these contact moments and making them a habit can be highly effective. For example, institute a weekly update—a 30-minute meeting involving the entire company where each department shares their ongoing activities. Approach this with a light-hearted touch to keep it engaging.

2. Encourage group spirit through informal activities

Events and recreational activities can significantly shape your company's culture and elevate employee engagement. Bringing colleagues together outside the confines of meeting rooms fosters a sense of camaraderie. In an era of remote work, large company gatherings and team-building events may be less feasible. However, there are plenty of alternatives for fostering cohesion among smaller groups. Encourage weekly walks with colleagues residing nearby, or organise sports activities for small teams. Above all, strive to offer opportunities that divert your employees from prolonged screen exposure, as screen fatigue is a growing concern.

Given the scarcity of office days, it's imperative to optimize the time spent in the workplace. Short breaks, such as during lunch or coffee pauses, can be enriched with innovative concepts. Consider implementing a rotation system where employees take turns providing lunch or snacks for the entire team.

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3. Understand employee needs

Initiatives like weekly updates and team lunches prove effective only if they resonate with your employees. Do you truly understand their needs? Employ a wellbeing survey that delves into how your employees are feeling, their aspirations, concerns, and how the company can address them.

After conducting a wellbeing survey, disseminate the insights to demonstrate that your employees are not alone in facing specific challenges. This fosters mutual understanding and a sense of togetherness. Uphold employee trust by translating the survey results into actionable steps.

4. Embrace personal growth and development

Demonstrate your commitment to nurturing both the personal and professional growth of your team. In an era of remote work, personal development can often take a back seat. Counteract this by proactively highlighting growth opportunities within your organisation and offering training programs. Encourage your employees to take full advantage of these opportunities.

Should you observe that some individuals require an extra push, consider scheduling regular meetings with your employees to discuss their personal development. While management and team leads can play a pivotal role in this, they may not always have the time or space to do so. In such cases, a coach or mentor dedicated to fostering personal development can prove beneficial.

5. Cultivate an open and supportive culture

Is the workload within your company sustainable? How are your employees faring in terms of mental health? In the current era of remote work, it's increasingly challenging for management to monitor the wellbeing of employees. Thus, creating an open culture becomes all the more critical. Strive to establish an environment where innovative thinking is encouraged, multiple subjects are open for discussion, and where employee voices are heard. By doing so, you reduce the barriers to addressing issues such as stress and mental health concerns.

Colleagues can play a pivotal role in supporting one another. A culture of support underscores freedom, trust, transparency, and employee involvement. This fosters a healthy work environment where colleagues view one another not as competitors, but as collaborators working together to achieve common objectives. Consequently, employees feel not only connected to one another but also to the organisation.

6. Give responsibility and show appreciation

Employees who receive recognition and perceive their contributions to the company's objectives tend to feel more engaged, productive, and content in their roles. Those assigned greater responsibility become more cognizant of their influence on the company's progress.

To ensure your employees feel acknowledged and appreciated, sometimes a simple "thank you" can work wonders. Consider recognizing their efforts with tokens of appreciation such as chocolates on holidays, a bottle of champagne on birthdays, or an end-of-year gift.