If you’re anything like us, you’re all about creating a workplace where people thrive; it’s good for employees, it’s good for you, and it’s good for the bottom line of the business. Highly engaged teams show a 21% increase in profitability (Gallup). So, how do we unleash the magic?
The Landscape: A Peek into the Workplace
Picture this: you stroll into your workplace (or log into your virtual office) and feel a burst of energy, not a sense of impending doom. Sounds ideal, right? Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report indicates that only 15% of employees worldwide feel engaged at work. That’s a staggering 85% who might be eyeing the exit sign or, even worse, staying.
So, how do we flip the script and create a workplace that folks can’t wait to be a part of? Let’s break it down:
10 Tips to Boost Workplace Productivity & Employee Engagement in 2024
1. The Power of Purpose
Employees want to feel connected to a higher purpose. According to Deloitte, organisations with a strong sense of purpose are 4.4 times more likely to have employees who are highly engaged. Engaged employees are 17% more productive than their disengaged counterparts (Gallup).
Action Plan: Get your team on board with the company’s mission. Explain how their work fits into the bigger picture. When they understand ‘why,’ they’ll be more committed to ‘how.’
2. Great Leadership: The MVP
Leadership sets the tone. Gallup found that 70% of the variance in employee engagement is due to the manager. That’s a hefty responsibility! Harvard Business Review reports that companies with strong leadership are 13 times more likely to outperform their competition.
Action Plan: Invest in leadership training. Equip your managers with the skills to be not just bosses but inspiring leaders. Encourage open communication and empathy.
3. Recognition Rules
A pat on the back goes a long way. Gallup reveals that employees who feel their efforts are recognised are more engaged. A study by O.C. Tanner revealed that 79% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason. Companies that use recognition and praise have a 31% lower turnover rate (Gallup).
Action Plan: Implement a recognition program that celebrates wins, big or small. Make it personal, sincere, and frequent. Remember, it’s not just about bonuses; a simple ‘thank you’ can work wonders.
4. Flexibility for the Win
The workplace landscape has shifted. Remote work, and flexible hours – they’re not just perks anymore, they’re expectations. Gallup’s research indicates that employees who have the option to work remotely are more engaged. Buffer’s “State of Remote Work” report found that 97.6% of respondents said they would like to work remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their careers. And post-pandemic, 80% of employees now desire remote work at least part-time (Gallup).
Action Plan: Embrace flexibility. Trust your employees to manage their own time and deliver results. It’s a win-win – they get the freedom they crave, and you get more engaged, productive team members.
5. Well-being Matters
Healthy, happy employees are engaged employees. Gallup found that those who feel their well-being is supported are 27% more likely to report excellent performance. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year. Yes $1 trillion!!
Action Plan: Promote a culture of well-being. Invest in leadership, role model positive behaviours, align expectations and resourcing, review reward and recognition, encourage regular breaks, offer mental health support and continue professional development opportunities. When your team feels good, they’ll do good work.
6. Feedback is Fuel
Feedback isn’t just an annual review. It should be a continuous dialogue. Gallup’s research shows that employees who receive regular feedback are 12.5 times more likely to be engaged. According to Officevibe, 65% of employees want more feedback than they currently receive. Only 26% of employees strongly agree that the feedback they receive helps them do better work (Gallup).
Action Plan: Implement ongoing feedback mechanisms. Encourage peer-to-peer feedback and create an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed and acted upon. Remember, this starts with leadership and an environment of psychological safety.
7. Development Opportunities
Nobody wants to be stuck in a dead-end job. Gallup highlights that 59% of millennials consider opportunities to learn and grow as extremely important. This holds true for employees of all ages. LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development. As Richard Branson famously said, “Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don’t want to”.
Action Plan: Invest in training and development programs. Help your employees acquire new skills and advance in their careers within the company.
8. The Importance of Team Building
Teamwork makes the dream work! This has become increasingly important in the hybrid workplace. Gallup states that employees with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that team-building interventions can improve team performance by 20% or more.
Action Plan: Organise team-building activities, think outside the box, make it fun or challenging, and keep it during work hours! Put the time and effort into fostering a sense of camaraderie. A close-knit team is a more engaged team.
9. Embrace Technology
In today’s digital age, the right tech tools can boost productivity and engagement. Technology starts from day 1 – a report by McKinsey & Company states that using advanced analytics and AI in talent management can improve business outcomes by up to 115%, and the necessity continues; 81% of employees believe that technology is crucial for the future of work.
Action Plan: Continually assess your tech stack. Invest in tools that simplify tasks and enhance collaboration. Understand ‘why’, and avoid gimmicks. Follow change management techniques regarding: onboarding, adoption, and experience.
Workplace Consultancy Service
10. Regular Check-Ins
Finally, make engagement and productivity discussions a regular part of your workplace. Gallup advises that companies that regularly measure engagement are 21% more profitable. A study by TinyPulse found that regular one-on-one meetings with managers lead to a 25% increase in employee engagement. 63% of employees believe that employee surveys show that their employers care about their opinions (SHRM).
Action Plan: Conduct regular check-ins to gauge employee satisfaction and utilise best-in-class surveys to capture quantitative data. Use the feedback to make meaningful improvements. Ensure actions are captured and communicated throughout – ensure people know you have listened. Where actions can’t be taken, be transparent about it.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, boosting workplace productivity and employee engagement is all about creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired. With these data-driven insights from Gallup and other reputable sources, you have a robust toolkit to shape your strategies. Remember, it’s a journey, not a destination. Stay humble, stay human-centric, and watch your workplace transform into a hub of productivity and engagement! And of course, if you need any assistance, you know where we are!
Contact our workplace consultants today if you would like more advice on how to engage your employees
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Further reading:
click the image to read
- 8 Key Considerations to Enhance Visitor Management Experience
- Navigating the Tech Landscape: Choosing the Ideal Security Solution
- Vpod Talk About Purposeful Design at CDW 2023
- Fixing Cluttered Chaos: How Storage Lockers Create Organised & Flexible Space
- Do your Employee Experience initiatives fall short?
Sources:
- Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report: Gallup
- Deloitte’s Research on Purpose-Driven Organizations: Deloitte
- Harvard Business Review on Leadership’s Impact on Performance: Harvard Business Review
- C. Tanner’s Employee Recognition Study: O.C. Tanner
- Buffer’s “State of Remote Work” Report: Buffer
- The World Health Organization’s Research on Workplace Well-being: World Health Organization
- Officevibe’s Study on Employee Feedback Preferences: Officevibe
- LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report: LinkedIn
- McKinsey & Company’s Report on Technology and Talent Management: McKinsey & Company
- Journal of Applied Psychology’s Team Building Research: Journal of Applied Psychology
- TinyPulse’s Employee Engagement Study: TinyPulse
- SHRM’s Survey on Employee Surveys: Society for Human Resource Management
