Six Tips to Keep Employees Engaged

Employee productivity is the secret sauce to the success in any business. Without the proper culture, employees can quickly become bored and disengaged–and drag down productivity.

Finding ways to keep your employees engaged and content effects their overall attitude and productivity in a positive way. If fact, engaged employees show up more often, stay longer, and are more productive overall.

So how do you keep your employees engaged?

Here are six tips to help make your employees more productive.

1. Get the right tools.

Your employees’ skills are essential to job performance, but they are only as good as the tools you provide them with. Choosing the right software, collaboration tools or office equipment will make their job easier, and results in efficient workflow.

2. Provide training.

Proper training empowers employees with the confidence and know-how to be successful in their role. No training, or poor training, leads to ill-equipped, ineffective staff members who can become complacent or dissatisfied in their job.

Be sure to provide training during employee onboarding, and continue to offer refreshers and new training to help keep them invigorated and motivated.

3. Encourage autonomy.

Encourage your employees to take ownership over their own time and resources. Granting your employees with freedom fosters pride in their job in a way that trying to control them cannot.

We understand that micromanaging your employees may be second nature to you, but learn to trust the people you hire to manage the day-to-day activities and jump in to coach them if needed.

Manage less and get more.

4. Communicate!

Without two-way, effective communication, relationships break down and workplaces fail. Leadership who effectively communicate clear and concise expectations to their employees will be pleasantly rewarded with an engaged workforce.

Be sure to layout the future for your employees with open, positive lines of communication. Employees who know where they are headed, will get there quickly!

5. Promote self-care.

The number of employees calling in sick to work due to stress has tripled during the last 25 years. According to the American Institute of Stress, occupational pressures and fears are the leading cause of stress for American adults.

So even when they do make it to work, stressed employees are mentally and physically unhealthier, and chances are they are also less productive.

Here are a few ways you can help with employee stress levels.

Encourage your employees to tend to their mental and physical health by visiting healthcare professionals regularly.

Establish clear guidelines to measure success.

6. Give great perks.

A recent survey by Glassdoor reveals that four out of five employees prefer perks to a pay raise. Providing your team with the little extras can take employee loyalty and company morale to new heights! Here are some examples:

Reebok encourages employees to reach their personal fitness goals by providing an on-site gym with Crossfit classes.
Scripps Health offers pet health insurance for cats and dogs.
Amex’s parental leave policy offers up to five months of fully-paid leave for both mothers and fathers.
Whole Foods offers a 20% store discount to all employees, including full-time and part-time employees.
Microsoft offers an annual $800 “StayFit” reimbursement program to help cover the cost of gym memberships.

Maybe you aren’t equipped to dole out such extravagant perks, but you get the general idea.

Start promoting employee engagement and watch your productivity soar!