Buckle Up

A changing landscape of opportunities, for individuals and organisations, makes for a dynamic environment of skill development and learning, says Pooja Bajaj

In order to succeed, a business must possess three basic essentials — a robust strategy, extraordinary leadership and engaged employees. The workplace needle has shifted from being economy-driven to service-driven, where the employee’s interest is extremely vital for the company’s growth. A changing landscape of opportunities, for individuals and organisations, creates a dynamic environment of skill development and automation. As per the 2018 Workplace Learning Report by LinkedIn Learning, businesses are fighting to stay ahead of the curve, holding onto their best talent to fill key positions.

The need for employee engagement

According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report, a mere 15 per cent of employees are engaged in their jobs, which in turn shows low productivity and their demands couldn’t be met by the organisations.

Imagine, if every employee has the zeal and passion to see the company succeed with satisfied and loyal customers, wouldn’t that be the ideal workplace? You can only ensure the retention of your customers by taking care of your employees and keeping them motivated and happy. An engaged and enthused environment in an organisation leads to higher productivity levels, gives it a creative boost, retains the best talent while ensuring wellness, good health and much more. The mindset of transformation is powerfully assisted by the right employee engagement tools and knowledge.

Effective employee engagement is the glue that holds together the employee’s goals and the strategic objectives of the business. This means the organisation’s goals are well-aligned with the employee’s goals and there should be a constant flow of information on how this alignment helps the company grow while at the same time motivating and integrating them.

Digital revolution of employee engagement

There is a distinct transformation visible in the talent development and management today, according to the 2018 Workplace Learning Report. A majority of organisations depend on digital and online learning solutions to meet the demands and needs of their employees. The workplace consists of an increasingly diverse, multi-generational and digitally inclined workforce. A recent ATD report found that almost 90 per cent of companies offer digital learning today.

Almost 58 per cent of employees prefer opportunities to learn at their own pace, 49 per cent prefer to learn at the point of need this shows the pressing need to cater to varied learning needs with personalised digital solutions. These solutions not only deliver content, but also measure learning success and employees are more engaged, as per the report, when they are accountable and can measure their success.

Keeping employees engaged at the workplace A few ways to ensure a motivated and performance-driven workforce are:

Personal growth

It is vital for an employee to experience self-development and grow personally, as well as professionally.

Recognition

Appreciation, recognition and incentivising tasks are essential tools to improve the performance of your workforce.

Well-defined roles

Ensure proper division of work and roles among employees, while connecting the organisation’s overall objectives to their individual goals. This makes them realise the integral role played by them in the company’s success.

Foster friendships

It is very important for employees to stay well-connected and acquainted for personal and professional requirements in office.

Manager relations

To develop loyal and accountable teams with amazing manager relations, giving each employee an opportunity to grow with learning and development programmes. According to the Workplace Learning Report, managers account for at least 70 per cent of employee engagement scores.

Health and wellness

Organisations must take initiatives to help employees maintain a work-life balance, to look after their mental and physical health.

Purpose and communication

When the goal or purpose of a job is well-defined, an employee feels motivated to do it accordingly and achieve success. This is possible through effective and authentic communication at the workplace.

Career development

The organisation must help employees ‘make time for learning’ as 94 per cent of employees say that they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development, based on the Workplace Learning Report.

Reaching employee engagement nirvana in 2019

With high paying jobs hard to come by, it is essential for employers and leaders to engage their employees and make them feel as if they are an integral part of the business. Employers can follow a three-part module:

Inspire-Motivate-Partners

When employees, especially millennials, are inspired by opportunities and co-workers, they feel empowered to make a difference in their organisations and the world. Their motivation is driven by learning, promotions and relationships with their managers. These relations guide employees on which qualities need to be cultivated pass the next level and grow in their careers. Lastly, finding out their expectations and feedback pushes organisations to get them involved in making change within the company.