It’s no secret that keeping employees engaged and focused at work can be difficult, especially when they’re consistently presented with barriers and obstacles to overcome in their career. There are over 4 trillion paper documents in the U.S. alone and they are growing at a rate of 22% per year
Each and every industry has its fair share of challenges when it comes to building team-oriented work relationships, and the very best thing any employer can do for their employees — and therefore, their company — is help to foster long-lasting job satisfaction and productivity. Of course, that’s easier said than done.
Here are a few tips from experts for keeping your employees motivated, regardless of their industry, salary, or job title.
Focus On The Right Team Building Exercises
Team building exercises can help an employee feel a connection to their employer and realize that they are helping the company succeed. A Gallup study revealed that engaged employees could boost a company’s productivity and performance by as much as 200% over a similar corporation with disengaged employees. Use this information to your advantage by choosing team building activities that stray from the norm and require quick thinking. The Image Shoppe compiled a handy list of trending team building exercises to keep in mind.
Take Every Chance To Express Appreciation
It may sound tacky, but employees of all job statuses respond well to positive feedback and appreciation, especially when it’s consistent and genuine. Don’t sugar coat anything, of course, but there’s almost always something positive that can be said about an employee’s performance. Apple’s retail store chief, Angela Ahrendts, says it’s much simpler than most employers realize.
“You don’t overthink it, right? Do unto others. I mean, you connect with them and you care and you — and you do what you say you’re going to do. I mean, it’s not rocket science,” she told CBS News in an interview about employee motivation.
Everybody knows that information technology is a wide and varied field, encompassing hundreds of different types of jobs dealing with different sectors of the industry. If Ahrendts can manage to keep Apple’s team of highly skilled IT employees motivated with this simple tactic, any employer can follow suit.
Meet Employees Halfway
Finally, it’s important that employees see their employees as leaders instead of just supervisors, bosses, and higher-ups. Employers should always do their best to make accommodations to make their employees comfortable. The specifics range from industry to industry, but they often include aspects that can essentially make or break employee engagement. For example, taking preferred working hours into consideration when creating schedules, taking care of equipment and technical malfunctions that inhibit productivity on a timely basis, and encouraging an atmosphere that fosters professional development are just a few great ways to boost engagement while making employees feel like their voices are heard and valued.
Ultimately, keeping these employee engagement tips in mind can help any business maintain a highly productive and successful environment.