It’s Time to Focus on Employee Engagement
The studies are clear. Employee engagement affects business performance, and job satisfaction. But what does engagement mean and how do you drive it in the workplace?
Simply put, engagement is the connection employees feel with their organization. With decades of research on this topic, Gallup defines employee engagement as the involvement and enthusiasm that employees have in both their work and workplace. Various factors contribute to engagement, including professional development opportunities, employee wellness programs, strong relationships with colleagues, and a supportive environment in which they are valued. An inclusive, diverse culture is the foundation for high employee engagement.
When organizations capitalize on the strengths and unique value of their employees, they create a work environment where employees are truly engaged. If individuals cannot be their authentic selves at work, they won’t be as engaged and are more likely to leave, report Kenji Yoshino and Christie Smith in their book Uncovering Talent: A New Model of Inclusion. A company’s ability to attract a highly diverse workforce and build a truly inclusive culture result in increased employee engagement, reduced employee turnover, improved productivity, and greater profits. In today’s climate, companies must take proactive steps to increase employee engagement or risk losing their workforce.
How can your organization nurture an inclusive culture, creating positive employee experiences and a workplace where employees feel safe to bring their whole selves to work? Here are some options to explore:
Employee Resource Groups
Encourage and fund employee resource groups (ERGs) that represent diverse identities. An ERG group is comprised of employees with a shared background, experience, or interest, such as ethnicity, gender, or parenting. Each group builds a strong sense of belonging and community and offers a safe space for open discussions. ERG programs advance a respectful and inclusive company culture and provide both personal and professional support to participants.
Work-Life Balance Programs
The goal of work-life programs is to enhance the workplace for an increasingly diverse workforce. This could mean providing flexible working hours or options that support families, like childcare. Work-life balance means acknowledging that each employee is a whole person, with personal factors and experiences that affect their work. Supporting their needs is important for making the workplace inclusive — and that leads to greater engagement.
Mentorship and Sponsorship
We know that mentoring matters for professional advancement. For employees in marginalized groups, it’s even more critical. To ensure their inclusion, proactive sponsorship is necessary. Mentors and coaches can help mentees improve both ther hard skills that are important to productivity and soft skills that create a more inclusive and dynamic work environment.
As Rosalind Chow writes in a Harvard Business Review article, “Allies need to not only offer the emotional support of mentoring but also be intentional about identifying opportunities for sponsorship and using our social capital to lift up those who might otherwise go unnoticed.”
Inclusion Training
Providing learning opportunities to all employees can offer more than professional growth. Interactive training that delves into diversity and inclusion like overcoming biases and identifying micro aggressions enhances employees’ awareness and skills. These types of workshops are important building blocks for creating an inclusive, engaged workplace.
Celebrate holidays and events
Diversity initiatives for underrepresented cultures and backgrounds like Black History Month, Chinese New Year, and Pride Week are a valuable way to help every employee feel represented at work. Celebrating and learning about each other’s customs and traditions fosters a culture of inclusion that makes employees feel recognized and valued.
If you’re looking to drive employee engagement, start with inclusion and embrace diversity. And if you’re looking to understand just how to do that, contact us here.
