The biggest challenges of leading teams are to maximise staff retention, ensure employee satisfaction, and sustain engagement.
When each of these elements is nurtured, it promotes the other two. But when satisfaction drops, engagement is the next to go and is hard to recover, often resulting in the individual leaving. Equally, teams that change frequently don’t get the opportunity to bond, and become a cohesive unit.
In this article, we explore five tips for mobilising workforces to get the best results out of them.
1. Be responsive
Open communication is key to creating a workplace where everyone feels that they can share their ideas.
And as a leader, you should be prepared not only to take feedback, but to give it. Show that you’re capable of adapting and lead by example by demonstrating how to use feedback to develop as an individual and take on ideas that improve the workplace.
When people see that sharing their concerns leads to action, it empowers them to contribute and helps them feel that they are part of a team.
2. Encourage autonomy
Take every opportunity to allow employees to make decisions and influence processes.
Giving your team members the power – and the responsibility – to make decisions enables them to feel that the work they do makes a difference and that their opinions are valued which contributes significantly to engagement.
3. Provide accessible training
Training and development are essential to engagement – without them, it’s easy for people to feel as though they are stagnating in their role.
But it’s also important to consider how to support and encourage training. Invest in opportunities and tools that nurture learning in an engaging way, and offer personalised learning that gives everyone the chance to develop in the ways most accessible to them.
One great tool for workplaces is FlexiQuiz, which allows you to create your own quizzes for educational use. This engages and encourages employees to participate actively, rather than passively, in training exercise.
4. Recognise success
There is nothing that demolishes motivation quicker than an environment where good work receives no recognition.
That’s why it’s important to be able to measure performance and ensure that those who perform well are recognised.
Praise and reward are essential for motivation, and if employees feel that they don’t receive these, they often begin to feel that they have no reason to try and may begin to mentally check out.
Make sure that contributions are always acknowledged and celebrate achievements – your team should feel like you’re cheering them on!
Ensure that your company benefits make it feel like a worthwhile place to work – consider investing in a reward programme such as Perkbox.
5. Intervene
If you’re concerned that an employee isn’t as engaged as you would want, early intervention is key.
Be specific about what is causing your concerns, and invite them to share any concerns they have, including any personal circumstances that might be impacting their performance.
Inviting employees to share their honest feelings gives an opportunity to create solutions collaboratively and gives the individual a voice.
By working together in this way, you help employees create their own path to re-engaging whilst setting expectations and providing active support.
These are just a few tips to inspire your teams and enhance employee engagement for a productive workforce.
How do you motivate teams to ensure employee engagement? Share your strategies in the comments below.
Also Read – Employee Leaderboards: Motivating Performance Without Toxic Competition
