Making a good first impression is invaluable. This is the case for both the employer and the potential employee. The need to impress does not stop after the initial interview or even after the employee’s first day. It is an ongoing process throughout an individual’s employment.
Having a structured and personable on-boarding process where the new employee feels engaged and enthusiastic about their new opportunity is advantageous to the entire company. Continuing employee engagement has proven to prevent turnover and increase performance and productivity.
According to Scarlett Surveys, “Employee Engagement is a measurable degree of an employee’s positive or negative emotional attachment to their job, colleagues and organization that profoundly influences their willingness to learn and perform at work.” Here are a few features of successful companies that are able to foster great employee engagement.
Your Company’s Best Asset
Leaders must show that they value employees. Employee engagement is a direct reflection of how employees feel about their relationship with the boss. Employees look at whether their organizations and leaders mean what they say when they proclaim that, “Our employees are our most valuable asset.”
Challenge for Growth
Leaders should provide challenging and meaningful work along with opportunities for career advancement. Most emplyees strive to do new and different things in their positions. Yet, at the same time, companies must instill confidence that the challenges can be met. By not providing people the knowledge and tools to be successful is unfair and leads to lack of motivation – likely leading to stress, frustration, and, ultimately, lack of engagement.
Work With Me
Studies show that, when employees work in teams and have the trust and cooperation of their team members, they outperform individuals and teams which lack good relationships. Great leaders are great team builders. They are able to create and nurture an environment of trust and collaboration. Being cared about by co-workers is a strong predictor of employee engagement. Its a continuous challenge for leaders is to rally individuals to collaborate on organizational, departmental, and group goals, while excluding individuals pursuing their self-interest.
Do You See What I See?
Leaders must be able to share a clear vision with the rest of the company. People want to understand the vision that senior leadership has for the organization, and the goals that leaders or departmental heads have for the division, unit, or team. Employees need to understand what the organization’s goals are, why they are important, and how the goals can best be attained.
Feedback Gets You Far
Surveys show that often employees feel that they only get immediate feedback when their performance is poor, or below expectations. These same employees also report that praise and recognition for a job well done is much less common. Companies that give recognition, do it quickly, and again and again, will boost the confidence of not just the employee but the entire business.