Tips and Tactics for Engaging your Employees in Tough Times
Think having a job in this economy is enough to satisfy US workers? Clearly not! According to a just released survey, only 45 percent of workers are satisfied with their work ---- the lowest level ever recorded by the Conference Board research group.
“While the recession has undoubtedly played a role in this downward spiral, we have seen a growing discontent among US workers for years,” says Joyce Gioia, a workforce futurist and CEO of Employers of Choice, Inc. “Employers need to view the overwhelming shadow of unhappiness as a wake-up call, the catalyst for change. There are several effective steps employers need to take in these tough times --- and always --- to engage their employees and enhance their satisfaction.”
Gioia urges employers to understand that "What got you here, won't get you there." (Thank you, Marshall Goldsmith!) Companies will need to not only get out of the box, but smash the box. Turn things inside out, upside-down, and dare to be outrageous. Specific ideas employers can embrace for little or no expense include:
1. Set goals where leaders agree to give of themselves when the goals are met. For example, when his workers reached their stretch goal, one enlightened owner of a printing firm in Ohio dressed up in a bunny suit and fixed breakfast for them.
2. Insist your people give you their best ideas, then listen, really listen to their suggestions. You will be very pleased with the results. Marty Edelston, CEO of Boardroom Reports, credits being the most profitable company per capita (employee) in the U.S. by mining the collective intelligence of his employee population.
3. Conduct a re-orientation for your long-tenured employees and conduct "Stay Interviews" with everyone. One enlightened HR director of a small company interviews each of her people annually to find out what they're really thinking. If you can't do all of the interviews yourself, you can get help. (http://www.retentionconnection.com/stay_interviews.html)
4. Schedule a brainstorming session with your people to develop a list of non-financial rewards that you can use to recognize and reward people without spending any money. We conducted such a session with a government agency in Colorado and the results were amazing. People had not been so energized or engaged in years!
Organizations that take these steps will be well on their way boosting employee satisfaction and engagement, and to becoming Employers of Choice® --- distinctions earned by companies whose leadership, culture, and best practices attract, optimize, and hold top talent. Employers of Choice® enjoy a higher level of performance, greater workforce stability, and the level of continuity that assures preservation of the knowledge base, customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, and stronger profits. (www.employerofchoice.com)
For additional insights, Gioia can be reached directly at 336.282.2019; joyce[at]hermangroup.com.
Employer of Choice® is a registered certification mark of Employer of Choice, Inc. For more information about the award, visit www.EmployerOfChoice.com.