In the ever-evolving world of business, organizations are beginning to recognize that their most valuable asset is not just their product or service, but the people behind it. Human Resources (HR) departments play a pivotal role in nurturing and empowering these individuals. One of the key drivers of success in human resources lies in boosting employee engagement. This blog post will explore the importance of employee engagement and how it can transform the workplace into a thriving success. 

 Employee engagement has a profound influence on the workplace environment and the overall company culture. For many, it separates a long-lasting career from just another job and fundamentally contributes to a company’s overall success. Engaged employees are driven by passion and a sense of purpose in their work, leading to increased productivity and efficiency. 

According to Gallup’s Employee Engagement Survey, companies that have engaged employees do better than companies that do not. Gallup’s survey revealed an 18% increase in sales followed by a 14 % increase in productivity. But more importantly, the study disclosed a staggering 23% increase in profitability. 

Disengaged employees can also have a significant financial impact on organizations. The same Gallup survey revealed that, on average, a disengaged employee costs their organization approximately 34% of their annual salary. To put it in perspective, for every $10,000 earned by a disengaged employee, the organization loses $3,400. In today’s highly competitive market, these figures underscore the importance of prioritizing employee engagement and highlight the financial consequences organizations face when employee engagement is lacking.

It’s obvious engagement is a big component of a company’s success, but what exactly is employee engagement? Although engaged employees are more content than those who are not, engagement is more than an employee’s overall happiness. 

David Macleod, author of the book, “Engaging for Success: Enhancing Performance Through Employee Engagement”, states “This [employee engagement], is about how we create the conditions in which employees offer more of their capability and potential.” 

Macleod goes on to say that it is a workplace approach that incorporates trust and understanding between an organization and its employees. Engagement entails building trust, fostering understanding, and ensuring employees are motivated and invested in their roles and the success of the organization.

Despite its importance in the workplace, many organizations lack proper engagement strategies. One way HR departments can boost employee engagement is by bridging the gap between management and staff. Coaching managers on how to effectively communicate can help them build positive relationships with their employees. By coaching managers on effective communication and mediation skills, organizations can promote transparency, goal alignment, and genuine concern for employee well-being. Under these conditions, their staff will be transformed from a group of workers into a motivated team. 

Another way HR departments can boost engagement is to find ways to invest in their employees’ growth and development. This can include scheduling leadership workshops or even providing skill certification programs.  

A&R Group goes the extra mile when it comes to employee development. Earlier this year, A&R Group partnered with Auburn Technical Assistance Center(“ATAC”) to provide their employees with the Auburn Leadership Training program. This 9-week training course taught staff valuable leadership strategies and communication skills. 

They also were able to provide ATAC’s Lean Leadership training for its top-performing managers. This program instructs employees on how to improve customer value and operation flow while decreasing waste. By equipping employees with valuable leadership and communication skills, companies simultaneously support their personnel’s personal goals while enhancing the organization’s performance. 

Ultimately, recognizing the value of employee engagement and implementing strategies to enhance it can transform the workplace into a thriving hub of productivity, innovation, and success. By prioritizing the well-being and growth of their employees, organizations can unlock the full potential of their most valuable asset—their people.