an image of how to increase employee engagement

Get The Most Out Of Your Staff By Increasing Employee Engagement

Are you getting the most out of your people? It’s complicated. Increasing employee engagement is a critical component

Are you getting the most out of your people? It’s complicated. Increasing employee engagement is a critical component of a healthy workplace. If you’re looking for ways to improve this important metric, keep reading to learn how you can get more from your talented workforce.

Employee Engagement Metrics

According to a recent Gallup Poll, only 33% of employees are engaged in their work.  Another survey cites a lack of appreciation as one of the most significant reasons people are disengaged or leave their job.  Well then, the problem is solved; to get your employees engaged and retain them, you only need to make sure you show them more appreciation. If only it were that simple.

As managers and leaders, we are bombarded with statistics that tell us or imply the reasons ALL employees are more engaged or less engaged, and why they leave or stay in a job.

The problem with this approach is it tries to apply a one-size-fits-all solution. It attempts to answer the problem in simple terms.

The challenge is understandable by anyone who has tried on a shoe that is two sizes too small…it just doesn’t fit. It fits many people but not everyone.

As leaders, we are challenged to find solutions that motivate and engage everyone to the best of our ability and that solution is not a one size fits all possibility as much as we would like it to be.

“The old ways — annual reviews, forced rankings, outdated competencies —
no longer achieve the intended results.”

Jim Clifton, Chairman and CEO, Gallup

What Appreciation Means To You Versus Your Employees

The truth is even if the survey that cited lack of appreciation is generally correct, it doesn’t go deep enough. What does appreciation mean to you?  If asked that question, you probably have a very quick answer that is solid and real… but it’s just for you. Personally, appreciation to me means I received a raise or bonus for the good work I did. For someone else, it might be my manager praising me in front of all the staff. While for another, having a manager come into my office and tell me quietly and in person how much they appreciate my contribution would do the trick.

The point is we are all motivated by different things. The leader’s job is to understand how each of us is motivated and work to make sure the job rewards what motivates us.

Understanding Staff On An Individual Level

Over time we can observe if a person is more or less dominant, more or less outgoing, detail-oriented or not; in other words, HOW they go about doing their work. Understanding WHY they do their work or, more accurately, what motivates them is challenging and requires more sleuthing on the part of the leader.

It’s natural for us to project our own “WHY,” and that’s the biggest trap leaders face. We have developed our assessments that take the guesswork out of those processes and accurately identify an individual’s WHY, making a Leader’s job much easier.

The key is to put your notions of need aside and understand your people’s needs may be very different from your own.  It takes a little more time upfront but, in the end, it will save you time in refilling positions and improve your organization’s performance.

About Jamesson Solutions

Specializing in workforce development, talent selection, and personality assessment and evaluation, Jamesson Solutions provides numerous proprietary tools and methodologies to find the right people to fit the right roles, provide visibility and action plans for management, and Business Simulations that allow people to learn through self-discovery and by doing.

Each Jamesson Solutions Associate brings her/his own unique experience in developing individuals and improving organizational effectiveness to each client engagement. Their interest, their passion, and their commitment are in supporting you, the client, and your organization in achieving your objectives NOW and in the future.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.

Donna Warrick

About Donna Warrick

With 20+ years in training and development, Donna brings solid experience facilitating programs for team development, leadership development, change management, conflict management and presentation skills to name a few. Her dynamic, interactive style makes being in her programs both educational and enjoyable.