Do not overlook the importance of employee engagement

Gallup recently released a study called State of the American Workplace.  The study presents an in-depth look into the modern workforce.

A key finding in their research is a shift in focus from employers offering a wide array of benefits and beautiful office spaces to more attention on employee engagement.  Gallup describes engagement as “the basic psychological needs that must be met in order to perform your work well.”  Engagement is “not an event, an incentive program or a fun perk.”

What are the basic psychological needs according to Gallup’s research?  It all revolves around culture, well-being, purpose, and meaning.  Gallup identified 12 Elements of Engagement that “are proven performance management practices that can boost the outcomes of individuals, teams and the entire organization.  And they haven’t changed because they continue to improve individual, team and organizational performance.”

Here are several of the 12 Elements of Engagement from their study the State of the American Workplace.

• I know what is expected of me at work.
• My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.
• At work, my opinions seem to count.
• The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important.
• In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.

I invite you to read Gallup’s study to understand the shift that’s happening in our workplaces, and why leaders and managers must give more attention to employee engagement if they want to recruit, retain and develop people.  Don’t skip the obvious basics of engaging people.

I am currently working with an organization to hone their supervisors’ skills to focus on employee engagement and managing teams with confidence.  I can help your organization assess supervisors’ skills and tailor coaching and training to address skill gaps.  Click here to contact me.