Welcome to
...a series of tips to help you build business success through employee satisfaction and organizational culture
Tips 1-10
Articles adapted from Natalie Wickham
Tip 1: Create an engaging onboarding experience
When employees start work, they begin to form perceptions of your workplace from the first day. The whole team should be involved in employee engagement.
Leaders and employees alike should:
- Welcome new employees
- Help employees get access to resources
- Clearly communicate expectations
- Introduce new employees to other team members
Plan a few fun activities for new hires. Perhaps a happy hour or grilling outside over lunch. If workers are remote, consider how to adjust onboarding to give a positive first impression.
Consider a custom branded new hire kit, with company swag and fun desk items with the vision and mission statement front and center!
Tip 2: Spice (or sweeten) up the work environment
Prevent workplace burnout by changing it up:
- Schedule walking meetings or challenges to re-energize and get some fresh air.
- Allow employees the continued flexibility to work from home and/or remote.
- Have your next 1-on-1 meeting off-site.
If you’re an employee, consider offering up your suggestions to make the work environment more exciting!
Tip 3: Celebrate people (not just their work!)
Your employees are much more than their accomplishments at work. Make opportunities to celebrate your employees and teammates and their accomplishments outside of work. Recognizing your team in a holistic way will foster loyalty and camaraderie.
Birthday box programs can incorporate festivity with your company culture, with custom branded kits. These are a big hit with our clients, and employees love discovering a thoughtful surprise delivered to their doorstep!
Tip 4: Do a strengths assessment
Help employees learn about themselves and grow with a strengths assessment. Understand who they are and what they're good at—and put that knowledge to good use! You'll be able to better engage and develop employees and maximize their potential.
As an employee, try suggesting that everyone on your team takes a strengths assessment as a bonding activity. This can help you better understand your colleagues strengths and weaknesses to collaborate better.
Tip 5: Be a motivating coach, not a managing boss.
Ditch the boss mentality. Your employees don't want to be bossed around—they want to be advised, coached, and nurtured.
Our research (Quantum Workplace) shows that manager coaching can drastically impact employee engagement and performance. This study shows 85% of highly disengaged employees say they don't receive enough coaching from their manager.
Organizations with employees who receive frequent and effective coaching improve business results by 21 percent.
As an employee, ask for feedback more frequently if you are feeling disengaged from a lack of coaching. Don’t forget to thank your manager for their input and stay eager to grow and learn.
Tip 6: Ask employees to write their own job descriptions
Give your employees ownership of their role by asking them to define it. This gives employees a clear definition of their roles and responsibilities. But it also encourages them to embrace and run with their role. Instead of telling them what to do, allow them to create their part—to an extent, of course.
As an employee, make sure you take accountability for your role. Communicate what you like and dislike about your duties. Highlight what comes easier to you and what is more of a challenge. By doing this, you put yourself in the driver’s seat to shape your responsibilities.
Tip 7: Ask employees for advice
Each of your employees has unique strengths that can help both managers and employees alike. When you leaders ask their team for help or feedback, they are acknowledging employee strengths and showing appreciation.
Ask them to proofread your big executive presentation or help you find areas to cut expenses. See what they think of your latest team bonding idea. Or ask them for advice on how to tackle your next strategy planning meeting.
Consulting your employees will show you respect their opinions—and help you make crowd-pleasing decisions.
As an employee, ask for feedback from your teammates that aligns with their strengths. Just like you appreciate your manager asking for your feedback, your teammates will too.
Tip 8: Encourage Individuality
When employees can bring their whole, authentic selves to work, they tend to feel more engaged. Ask them about their personal lives and uncover what drives them.
Simply learning about their favorite football team or preferred way to unwind on the weekends can really help employees open up. Engagement falls when employees are assumed to be identical drones. Encourage their personalities to shine!
Tip 9: Make sure they're not overworking
Recommend a work schedule that gives employees ample free time to spend with family and friends. Let them know you value their work and respect their personal time as well.
Making an effort to show you care can go a long way toward making employees feel valued, appreciated, and help them avoid burnout.
Tip 10: Get out of the office and have fun!
Socializing outside of work is an effective way to increase employee engagement at work. Team-building can lead to stronger working relationships, effective communication, and increased job satisfaction.
Think company holiday parties, summer happy hours, or team lunches. Make it a priority to spend quality time with teammates out of the office. It will help relationships blossom and will bring your workplace together.