How to Keep Employees Happy & Engaged

Having a good employee workforce is one thing, and keeping them happy is another. High rates of employee turnovers is a bad sign for a number of reasons. It breaks up teams and becomes costly to keep training individuals for new positions. Managers are always looking for ways to keep their employees happy and encourage long-term employment, but very few of them have succeeded in this. Gartner analyst Joanne Galimi notes the importance of positive company morale: “Low staff morale and high turnover not only impede successful system implementations but could cause delays and raise costs as a result.”  The following are guidelines to follow so that you can also have happy and engaged employees. #1- Learning Never Stops The first thing that companies need to realize is that learning is always an ongoing process. It’s never something that is dull and will not stop. People are always hungry to learn and eager to grow, and that’s why you should provide them with the proper materials and resources to feed their knowledge-banks. Newer employees are looking for a way to climb up the corporate ladder and veterans are trying to stay with the changing times. By giving employees the upper hand and never making them feel like they are being left behind, they are more eager to stay where they are and improve their current status. #2- Freedom to Pursue what Interests Them Everyone has something that they are interested in. Many employees are interesting in improving their communities, and providing them with a way to do what means a higher level of satisfaction. Some people choose to visit a campus and share news about the company, while others choose to visit an elementary school or church to help the those in need. Helping the community serves two different purposes. First, it gives employees a feeling of success and value to what they do, but it also promotes the company and helps it grow from a business perspective. #3- Open Communication Another very important thing to consider is how important communication is. People want to know that their opinions and concerns are heard, and having open lines of communication does that. Whether it’s regarding a troublesome client or the desire to move up in the company, employees want to feel like they are valued and that their opinions matter. If they are ignored or feel like they are being brushed aside, they are much more likely to give up and may even find another position somewhere else that promises to meet their needs. Take the time to listen to your employees and satisfy those concerns so that they don’t feel frustrated about their job. Similarly, if you are implementing a new process in the office, ensure your employees understand this change and why it’s good for them. Gartner reveals that, “If the delivery of the change process does not include a clear understanding of the implementation mechanism, a communications plan, a marketing effort, incentives for change and a project focus, then the effort is likely to fail.” #4- Provide Other Activitie Finally, location is important when you think about where your company is based. Are there areas nearby that can serve as conversation or gathering spots? If so, it’s important to provide employees with ways to interact with one another in other areas of their life and meet with one another after a shift has ended. By providing employees with a way to build relationships, teams will be stronger and more cohesive than ever. Don’t ever underestimate the power of bonding with coworkers. See How You Can Grow Ensure that your employees feel valued and respected so that they continue to work with you. You’ll lower your turnover rate and will have a happier workforce because of it.