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December 21, 2015

Rethinking employee engagement

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Why should businesses rethink employee engagement?

Employee engagement begins with leadership.

Employee engagement begins with leadership.

As 2015 comes to a close, many business leaders wonder how employee engagement will continue to change in 2016. Engagement remains a hot topic for businesses across industries, as engagement sits lower than normal with retention rates decreasing as well.
“If employees can feel energized and they feel their work is meaningful, that’s what will deliver unforgettable customer experiences,” said author Brady G. Wilson in a recent 1to1 Media article.
How does engagement fall to the wayside in a business? There are a few causes of this. Most notably, though, is a lack of communication between leaders and employees. Lack of awareness about the need for change causes no changes to be made, continuing the same cycle. Other signs of engagement issues include:

  • Development barriers: When employees are sectioned off into different silos within a department, they have no chance of getting to know each other and communication becomes stagnant. As this occurs, the ability to cross train diminishes, as well as gaining an understanding of how each department contributes to the whole success of the business. If employees don’t feel as if their role in a process means something, they are more likely to disengage from their duties.
  • Failure to cultivate creativity: According to a recent survey conducted by The University of Bath School of Management, 59 percent of engaged employees said their job spurs creative thinking, compared to just three percent of those less engaged. Creativity is essential as it sets your business apart from others. When employees aren’t engaged in critical, creative thinking, further development takes a backseat.
  • Minimal training opportunities: Investing in employee training furthers personal investment in their role and future opportunities in the business. Training nurtures employees and challenges them to take greater risks. By energizing employees, commitment and passion for their expectations will be increased.

When employees are more highly engaged in their work, customer satisfaction has been proven to increase as well. Taking the time for business development and engagement are at the forefront of importance today.
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