During several of my recent coaching sessions, clients have wanted to dedicate some time to consider how they can develop their leadership skills to get greater employee engagement.

It’s my strong belief that team and business success is built on the efforts and quality of its people. If you recruit effectively and lead and manage people in the right way, it’s likely that you will have motivated, productive staff and a more successful business.

Definition of employee engagement

CIPD in their study with Kingston Business School define employee engagement as “being positively present during the performance of work by willingly contributing intellectual effort, experiencing positive emotions and meaningful connections to other”. Typical phrases used in the description of engaged employees include discretionary effort, going the extra mile, feeling valued and passion for work.

Happy and productive people lead to business growth

ACAS suggest that having happy and productive people equals business growth. They believe that the four key ingredients of a happier, more motivated and productive workforce are:

  • Leaders with a vision who value how individuals contribute
  • Line managers who empower rather than control their staff
  • Values that are lived and not just spoken, leading to a sense of trust and integrity
  • Employees who have the chance to voice their views and concerns

The financial case for greater employee engagement

There are massive financial benefits to having a happy and engaged workforce so I am always surprised when leaders don’t pay sufficient attention and priority to improving employee engagement.

In a study of professional service firms, the Hay Group found that offices with engaged employees were up to 43% more productive.

A 2009 study called “Engaging for Success” by David MacLeod and Nina Clarke suggested that engaged employees take fewer sick days compared with disengaged employees (2.69 days per year compared with 6.19 days per year). The CBI reports that sickness absence costs the UK economy £13.4 bn per year.

Engaged employees are 87% less likely to leave an organisation compared with disengaged employees, saving recruitment costs and avoiding a loss of productivity. 70% of engaged employees claim they have a good understanding of how to meet customer needs compared with 19% of disengaged employees.

Macleod and Clarke’s report mentions that Gallup suggested in 2008 the cost of disengagement to the UK economy was between £59.4 billion and £64.7 billion. The IES/Work Foundation report “People and the Bottom Line” found that if organisations increased investment in a range of good workplace practices which relate to engagement by just ten per cent, they would increase profits by £1,500 per employee per year.

My top tips for leaders who want to get better employee engagement

  1. Be passionate about life and what you do – people love leaders that enjoy life, who have positive energy and enthusiasm, who celebrate the success of others and are passionate about what they do. This behaviour means they are a great role model and lead by example.
  2. Believe in people’s potential – see the good in people, appreciate the talents and qualities of people and encourage people to express their talents, play to their strengths and be the very best they can be. This naturally brings out the best in people.
  3. Become a great listener – the way to really help people to feel valued and important, is to make them feel heard. To listen totally and authentically to them without interruption and to be fully present when they are talking to you.
  4. Share yourself – Leaders that share their insights, lessons, wisdom and resources freely with the intention of helping others develop and flourish are valued and appreciated. They have more energised and engaged people working for them.
  5. Give people hope – Napoleon Bonaparte characterized leaders as “dealers in hope.” Like all great leaders he knew that hope is the greatest of all possessions. If you can paint a positive vision and be the person who bestows the gift of hope on others, they will be attracted to you and will be forever grateful.

This week, why not take a few moments to reflect on the team that you lead or are part of. What action could be taken to increase the engagement levels of the team? What would the benefits be?

This week’s quotation:            

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” James C Penney.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk