Hey, Head Honchoes: Are You Leading the Charge for Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement. There’s a good chance you’re doing it wrong.

At least that’s what an interesting article over at Forbes.com has indicated. That, and it’s time for bosses and business owners to lead the charge for improved employee engagement. According to that story, a recent Gallup poll found that over 70 percent of American workers are either actively or passively disengaged from their work, and this costs the economy $370 billion dollars.

Seventy percent! $370 billion dollars!

This is not good. In fact, it sort of stinks. Apparently, there’s a real need for leaders to step up their employee engagement game. A workforce that feels appreciated and empowered within a company can contribute to that business’s success and improved bottom line by:

• Reducing turnover
• Increasing employee productivity
• Attracting new talent
• Providing valuable feedback from “the frontlines”
• Improving brand image
• Cutting down time dealing with complaints

Build a company culture that gives people a sense of being part of something great.

Social media is one that can be used to create a sense of community and culture, but there are others too. There are many ways to develop networks for feedback, mentoring, recognition and contribution, and they are all great ways for engaging your workforce—provided they give your people a real sense of belonging and respect. From the Forbes article:

The goal with all of these is to give people a voice, a way to share their ideas and know they matter to the organization. It allows long-term employees to mentor new hires, sometimes across global locations where collaboration is needed. This builds strong internal relationships, boosts morale and improves the performance of both the mentor and the mentee. The mentor’s skills are refreshed, and she gains the satisfaction we all feel when helping someone. The mentee, of course, learns the ropes not only from a leader, but from someone who lives them every day.

So, whether you realized it or not, employee engagement is a leader’s responsibility. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Bosses are company role models. The top brass who proudly built and/or maintain an organization are the most qualified to help cultivate a sense of pride and create a feeling of commitment in their employees. When they do that, they elevate the levels of satisfaction and fulfillment not just in their workforce, but in themselves as well.

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