What makes a workplace thrive with energy and excitement? A lot of pieces have to work together to bring a team to life, but it ultimately boils down to your employee engagement strategies. Accordingly, we've got the scoop on effective employee engagement strategies that work wonders.
We're exploring how to make workplace magic happen. We’re going to share 23 proven methods that not only lift spirits but also turbocharge productivity and loyalty.
If you're a seasoned HR professional or a business owner keen to inject some life into your workplace, you won't want to miss out on these ideas. Let’s get started, shall we?
Why Does Employee Engagement Matter?
Employee engagement is crucial for several reasons, impacting both organizational success and employee satisfaction:
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Higher Employee Retention — Higher employee engagement levels are associated with lower employee turnover. Engaged employees feel a sense of loyalty and commitment to their organization, which makes them less likely to leave for other opportunities. Not sure what your employee turnover is? Check out our free employee turnover calculator.
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Profitability — Companies with high employee engagement tend to be 21% more profitable. They’re also 17% more productive. That’s likely because engaged employees contribute to a positive and productive work environment, which can lead to improved sales, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, profitability.
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Customer Satisfaction — Engaged employees often deliver better customer service with better employee morale. That's because their commitment to their work can translate into a greater effort to meet customer needs and solve problems effectively.
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Creativity — Engaged employees are more likely to contribute out-of-the-box ideas and innovations. A deep emotional connection to their work can motivate them to find new and better ways of doing things. Ultimately, this can contribute to your company’s growth and adaptation in a competitive market.
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Happier Employees and Teams — High levels of engagement can enhance overall workplace morale. More than just helping your company, this does wonders to your employees too. We, at Quizbreaker, believe that managers and business leaders have a responsibility and opportunity to impact lives positively, starting with the people who work for your organization.
23 Employee Engagement Strategies That Work (With Examples)
Here are twenty-three of our recommended engagement strategies what will bring your company to life.
1. Have Fun!
Let’s start off simple— sometimes all you need to engage your employees better is to have fun. Not many companies see the return on investment of investing in things like team building activities and icebreakers at work. And that’s understandable since they don’t directly bring in new sales.
But more fun at work can have a positive impact on your overall employee engagement levels. As discussed above, that can bring several key benefits to your organization.
Example: Here are some fun activities you can do with your team to build up employee engagement:
Run regular icebreakers.
Icebreakers are simple yet fun to do. We love them because they are pretty automatic and help you learn a fair few things about your coworkers in the process.
We actually built a platform that would help you run these icebreakers asynchronously for your company. To add a level of competition, we have things like leaderboards and commenting to make it more fun.
Check out Quizbreaker’s icebreaker quizzes and try it for free.
Play trivia games.
Another easy choice for us— trivia games are classic, but they do the trick. Run trivia around categories like Disney, Marvel, or even General Knowledge. You can even custom-build a trivia game around your company’s history, culture, or even employees.
Looking for a tool to run your trivia challenges? We’ve got that too! Check out more about our multiplayer trivia platform on Quizbreaker.
Have an escape room challenge.
We love escape room challenges because they’re not just fun. They also help your team collaborate and build more strategic muscles. There are tons of escape room challenges to try out. We’ve got a whole list of them here.
For more fun team-building activities, check out these articles next:
- 22+ Fun Group Activities for Teams [Ranked]
- 25 Fast and Easy Coworker Games to Play at Work (2024 Update)
- 15 Fun Get to Know You Games for the Office (2024 Update)
- 15 Fun & Memorable Office Party Ideas for All Seasons
2. Give Your People Autonomy
One of the best employee engagement strategies is all about letting employees take the reins and own their work. It means giving them the freedom to decide how they tackle their tasks and projects. It's also about believing in your team to handle decisions and challenges within their roles.
Example: Offer flexible work options so they can choose when and where they work. Let them take the lead on projects, allowing them to shape their work. Give them decision-making power and provide training opportunities to explore new skills. Finally, create feedback channels for their input.
3. Evaluate Your Communication And Alignment
This strategy involves assessing how effectively communication flows within your organization and ensuring alignment between your company's goals and individual objectives.
Keep tabs on how well information flows through your team, gathering input from your crew, and taking steps to boost transparency and teamwork. When everyone's on the same page and chatting openly, it ramps up morale and gets everyone firing on all cylinders.
Example: Include regular team meetings to discuss progress and goals, implement employee surveys to gather feedback on communication effectiveness, and create clear communication channels for sharing updates and information.
4. Be Deliberate About Company Culture
This method is all about molding a work atmosphere that mirrors what our company stands for and where we're headed. It's about ensuring everyone feels appreciated, respected, and backed up while they're on the job. That means setting up fun team activities, recognizing top-notch work, and letting everyone know they're an essential part of the crew.
Example: To amp up our workplace vibe, we can plan cool team-building events, give shout-outs and rewards for awesome work, and make sure every team member feels like they belong and are valued.
5. Provide Regular Feedback
Regular employee feedback is like fuel for keeping employees fired up and ready to go. It's all about giving them constructive advice, shout-outs for a job well done, and tips to help them do even better.
Provide feedback in different ways, like through regular chats, official reviews, or just quick catch-ups. When you make feedback a regular thing, it shows your team you're invested in helping them grow and succeed, which keeps everyone pumped and talking.
Example: There are tons of employee feedback examples for you to try. Schedule in one-on-one meetings where you discuss performance, employee recognition emails highlighting exceptional work, or informal check-ins during team meetings to provide quick pointers and encouragement.
6. Make Employee Health a Priority
Implementing this strategy means putting your team's health front and center. And we hope you don’t just do it because you have to. Prioritizing your company isn’t just a great business decision. It’s a highly human one too.
Try activities and initiatives like employee wellness programs, flexible schedules, and seminars on how handle stress and keep that work-life balance in check. You could also hook them up with healthcare benefits, support for mental health, and comfy work setups.
Example: This means providing wellness programs, like gym memberships, letting employees adjust their schedules, offering resources for stress management, providing health insurance, mental health counseling, and ergonomic workstations.
7. Build A Solid Onboarding Process
Crafting a top-notch onboarding process for new employees can help improve engagement tremendously because you set them up for success. Share your company's mission, culture, values, and vision to your new hires. These provide them with the tools and backup they need to dive into their new roles.
Example: A great onboarding process means rolling out the red carpet for newbies with things like company culture sessions, values workshops, and vision presentations. We equip them with training materials and mentorship to kickstart their roles with confidence.
8. Encourage Work-Life Balance
Encouraging work-life balance is like giving your team the freedom to find their rhythm between work and personal life without feeling trapped. It's about letting them decide when they work, take time off for family stuff, and guarantee they're not stuck at their desks all the time.
When you prioritize work-life balance, it's like assuring your team, "We've got you covered," making everyone happier and more chilled out.
Example: Supporting work-life balance means letting employees choose their work hours, take breaks for family activities, and avoid being tethered to their desks constantly.
9. Create A Diverse And Inclusive Workplace
Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is like making sure everyone feels appreciated, no matter where they come from. We mean inviting people from various backgrounds, showing everyone the ropes of inclusivity, and appreciating each person's special touch. Embracing diversity is like jazzing up a recipe with different flavors – it makes things more exciting and enjoyable.
Example: Welcoming individuals from different backgrounds, providing diversity training, and recognizing the unique contributions of each employee. This fosters collaboration, innovation, and a sense of belonging among the team.
10. Get Rid Of Office Bullies
Set clear rules against bullying, discrimination, and harrassment at work. You should also take steps to stop it before it starts by clearly outlining the repercussions of this behavior and being impartial when treating these acts.
We're all about showing people how to chat with each other nicely. Give them a simple way to report any bullying, and make sure there are consequences for those who step out of line. When we make our workplace a safe and friendly space, it communicates to your team, "We're here for you," and that makes us all happier and more ready to collaborate.
Example: Encouraging respectful communication involves training sessions on active listening and constructive feedback, setting up anonymous reporting systems for employees to report incidents, and implementing disciplinary actions for offenders.
11. Involve Your Team in Decisions
Getting employees involved in company decisions is all about asking for their thoughts and ideas on things that impact them or the whole team.
This might mean asking for ways to make things run smoother, including them in big planning talks, or setting up groups to tackle specific problems.
Example: We can chat about ways to smooth out processes, brainstorm big plans together, or set up groups to tackle tricky issues. When everyone's voice counts, it's a real morale booster and makes teamwork shine brighter.
12. Set Up Mentorship Programs
Mentorship programs team up seasoned pros with those hungry for knowledge, giving guidance and a helping hand. These avenues allow for sharing know-how, making bonds, and cheering each other on to be the best we can be.
Example: Mentorship programs team up seasoned folks with those just starting or looking to grow. Mentors share tips, tell stories, and lend a hand when things get tough. It's all about helping each other grow, making connections, and keeping spirits high in the team.
13. Encourage Internal Mobility
Promoting internal mobility means offering opportunities for your staff to experiment with different roles and progress within the organization.
This can be accomplished by offering training to improve skills, networking, and mentorship to assist professional progress. Communicate all job prospects within the organization before offering it outside your organization. This clears the path for your team to advance and be successful inside the company.
Example: We always inform our staff first about job opportunities here, and we then provide them with training to advance their careers. It's also simpler for people to progress within the organization when mentors are present to offer guidance.
14. Be Transparent
Transparency cultivates trust and alignment within the organization by openly sharing information, decisions, and goals with employees.
To achieve this, you need to build a culture of openness and provide clear communication about company performance, strategies, and challenges. This will give your team a sense of ownership and accountability among employees.
Example: This includes sharing financial updates, discussing strategic decisions, and addressing challenges openly. This could involve regular town hall meetings, sharing performance metrics, and inviting feedback on company policies and decisions.
15. Prioritize Your Team's Well-being
Putting employee well-being ahead means thinking about how they feel while they're at work, and trying to make the experience as positive as possible. This might include stuff like wellness programs to keep everyone healthy, flexible schedules to balance work and life and help deal with stress.
And by offering healthcare benefits and mental health support, we're showing our team we care about their well-being.
Example: Putting well-being first means making sure everyone feels good at work. This could involve wellness programs for physical health, flexible schedules for work-life balance, and support for managing stress.
16. Outline Career Paths and Growth Opportunities
Helping our team members advance within the company means giving them clear paths for internal promotion.
Example: We connect them with mentors, offer training sessions, and provide chances to learn new skills. It's all about guiding them along their professional journey and helping them grow.
17. Conduct Employee Pulse Surveys
A pulse survey is a form of employee engagement survey that can tell you how an employee feels at work. Use them to ask employees about how satisfied they are with their work, the business culture, and the effectiveness of communication.
Making this one of the most effective employee engagement strategies for maintaining team satisfaction. We highly recommend that you use an employee pulse survey tool like the one we have on Quizbreaker. This will automate the pulse feedback collection process and save you tons of time.
Example: We usually inquire about job satisfaction in these surveys to gather input on duties, responsibilities, and the overall atmosphere of the company.
18. Spotlight Your Best Employees
Spotlighting champions is recognizing and showcasing employees who exemplify exceptional performance, dedication, and contribution to the organization.
Example: Spotlighting champions can be as simple as giving shout-outs to employees who go above and beyond. Try creating an employee spotlight for your business or organization.
This could be through features in newsletters, posts on social media, or public recognition during meetings, celebrating their outstanding contributions and achievements.
19. Create Digital and Physical Office Spaces
To promote digital and physical office spaces, you should create environments that support collaboration, productivity, and well-being.
Example: This means setting up spaces that boost teamwork, efficiency, and employee happiness. For instance, this could include providing tools for remote work, adaptable office setups, and facilities for relaxation and wellness.
20. Encourage Volunteering Time
Providing paid volunteer time off means giving employees the chance to participate in community service or charity work without losing their regular pay.
Example: Giving paid volunteer time off means employees get paid while they volunteer for causes they care about. They could spend a day helping at a food bank or joining cleanup efforts for the environment.
21. Promote from Within Your Company
Promoting from within can have a powerful effect on company morale. It shows teams that you give opportunities fairly and allow those already in your organization to grow first. You’re also more likely to see success in leadership development as existing employees already know the ins and outs of your organization.
Example: Instead of hiring a new manager externally, the company can promote a high-performing employee who has demonstrated leadership skills and dedication.
22. Conduct Stay Interviews
Conducting stay interviews is regularly meeting with employees to understand their job satisfaction, motivations, and potential reasons for leaving the organization.
Running these interviews with your team will provide you with valuable insights into employee sentiments. Your organization can then use these ideas and feedback to address concerns and implement employee retention strategies to keep valuable talent onboard.
Example: This means sitting down with employees to hear about what makes them happy at work, what drives them, and any concerns they might have about leaving.
23. Provide Resilience Training
Providing resilience training equips employees with the skills and resources to effectively navigate challenges and setbacks in the workplace. It teaches employees how to manage stress through mindfulness techniques, cope with setbacks by reframing negative thoughts, and maintain well-being through regular exercise and self-care practices.
Example: Sign up for resilience training seminars or online courses on resilience training. You can check companies and websites like Masterclass and Mindvalley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should companies invest in better employee engagement?
Investing in better employee engagement should be non-negotiable to all companies. It boosts job satisfaction, retention, and productivity. Engaged employees are more committed and enthusiastic, which leads to higher quality work and innovation.
Enhanced engagement also builds a positive workplace culture, reducing turnover and the associated costs of hiring and training new staff. Ultimately, it strengthens organizational health and improves performance across all levels.
Will higher employee engagement help my business earn more?
Yes, higher employee engagement can significantly boost a business's financial performance. No, the effect might not be direct, but there are many signs that point to the fact that higher employee engagement will positively affect profitability.
Engaged employees often work harder and more efficiently, leading to increased productivity and better service quality. This can result in higher customer satisfaction and loyalty, which drives sales and revenue growth. Furthermore, as engaged employees are less likely to leave, companies can save on recruitment and training costs, thus enhancing profitability.
Final Thoughts
These twenty-three ideas barely scratch the surface, but they’re great places to start. Of course, you don’t have to do all of them in one go. You can implement two or three and see which ones work best.
At the end of the day, strategies and ideas are great. But they won’t bring any good to your organization if you don’t implement them. So, we encourage you to try these ideas out. You’ll never go wrong with having employee engagement strategies at work. All the best!
