Easy Ways to Engage Your Employees

Fortunately you do not need a huge budget or HR department to ensure your team is engaged and feeling appreciated at work. As Bonnie Staring writes in her article ‘’Rewarding Ideas for Employee Engagement’, here are 8 low cost ways to boost morale, productivity and loyalty among your team:
1. Find Out What Motivates Them
The key is what motivates ‘them’ not you. Take the time to understand what motivates your employees and deliver it. Some employees may want to be recognized publicly, while some may prefer person recognition. Know what they want and deliver their way.
2. Ask Your Employees For Help
When we are asked for help, to share our thoughts and give our ideas to help solve problems, we feel appreciated. Asking makes employees feel they are valuable and that their opinion matters.
3. Realize The Power Of A “Thank You”
“People are the most important asset a business has,” says Jeff Welton, CHRP, Managing Director at Verity International Limited (a company that provides executive coaching and career-management services), and a former HR VP at TD Bank Group. Spoken thanks are usually appreciated but physical notes allow an employee to refer to and reflect upon them at a later date. “When you write an employee a thank-you note, take the time to tell them why what they did was important to you,” suggests Welton.
4. Acknowledge Work Anniversaries
Celebrate an employee’s years of service with some kind of recognition or special mention. You could print up a certificate, order a cake, or give that employee the rest of the day off; just do something memorable that shows that their loyalty is appreciated.
5. Provide Opportunities
The more opportunities you give employees to develop new skills, to grow or potentially advance their careers, the more likely they will be to stay. With this type of opportunities available, employees will be more engaged, more motivated and more dedicated.
6. Listen And Take Action
Encouraging employees to share their thoughts only works if they feel they’re being heard. Taking action is a trust-builder, not taking action will shut people down.
7. Think Outside The Office
Let an employee swap parking spots with you for a week. Or pick up a few dollar-store umbrellas or toques to have on hand for employees to use during surprise downpours or unexpected cold snaps. There is no end to the small kindnesses you can provide for employees to show that you care.
8. Own The Program
“No matter what you decide to do, you have to take ownership of the employee-engagement program,” advises Welton. “HR can support it. HR can bring ideas to the table, but for employees to feel it’s genuine in spirit, it’s got to come from the top.”