As we say hello to 2014, it’s time to think about employee engagement in the new year. Feeling daunted? Not sure where to start?
Employee Engagement is a complex concept, and it can be tough to get it absolutely right – but there are 5 basic things you need to know to ensure your employee engagement is successful in 2014:
1. Get the right people on board
Take time to sell your engagement ideas to influential people in your organisation. I’m not just talking about the MD, line managers or senior employees – I mean the really influential people. Hierarchy doesn’t always come into play where influence is concerned – just because someone has made it to the top spot doesn’t necessarily mean they’re well liked. You need to get those popular employees on board, because they’ll make your job much easier – by helping to spread the word about your engagement plans. They’ll also play a big part in persuading their peers that your engagement plans really are in their best interests.
2. It’s all about the strategy
You can’t hope to create successful employee engagement if you’re not going to bother with a strategy. Employee engagement takes time and effort to get right, and MUST be thoroughly and correctly planned. You need to know what you’re doing, when you’re doing it by, and most importantly WHY you’re doing it. Strategies are integral for keeping you on track, and allow you to see things clearly if things start to go awry. A good strategy ensures you’re always on time and on target.
3. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in…
When it comes to employee engagement, everyone needs different things. No two people need exactly the same things to feel engaged, and everyone approaches employee engagement in different ways. Once you’ve planned your strategy, mapped out your engagement activities and started to spread the word, remember one thing: don’t be afraid to get stuck in! You need to show your peers & employees that you’re 100% committed to the ideas you’re putting forward, and that you truly believe that your plans will help to change things for the better – no one else will do it for you.
4. …but don’t be scared to ask for help when you need it
Although it’s a great idea to get stuck in to your engagement activities and plans, remember that you can’t be everything to everyone. You can’t expect to carry out your day to day tasks AND run a full engagement strategy for the year ahead, and still be doing a great job. There aren’t enough hours in the day to do it, and if you juggle too many balls you’ll end up dropping them all. Focus on the things you’re good at, and don’t be afraid to use some of your budget towards improving engagement in your organisation. That’s what it’s there for – and if you haven’t got the experience needed to do the job well, make sure you call someone in that will really make a difference.
5. Give yourself a break
Remember, you’re doing a great thing. You’re working hard to make a change in your organisation – despite some of the reactions you may get from other employees. Employee engagement is such a new concept in many companies, that people still need to be convinced that it’s worthwhile. If you encounter the odd frosty reaction here or there, shrug it off – and give yourself a break. You can’t create successful employee engagement overnight – but you’ll feel great when you start seeing the changes in your organisation.
