Employee engagement efforts have become the go-to answer for fixing a host of common workforce issues. And while important, engagement is often given so much attention that organizations may lose sight of the end goal.
Why do organizations want engaged employees? There are several reasons, but most of them boil down to the fact that engaged employees are productive employees. Productivity affects the bottom line. So it makes sense to prioritize engagement, right?
Yes! But as we’ll see, relying on engagement efforts alone to influence productivity may put both endeavors in jeopardy.
WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT PERCENTAGE
According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), corporations are spending $100 billion annually to increase employee engagement. However, Gallup’s latest study shows that only 15% of the workforce is actively engaged (highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work), so the result of this investment is underwhelming. And costly. HBR estimates a loss of $450 billion annually due to the fact that 85% of employees are still not engaging.
These numbers prove that the heavy focus on creating a more engaged culture isn’t working as well as many have hoped.
So, what can be done to engage a higher percentage of employees and actually increase productivity, too?
Engagement and productivity go hand-in-hand, so HR leaders shouldn’t feel that they need to carry the entire burden alone. Maybe it’s time to shift some of the weight to other areas of the organization rather than expecting engagement to fix everything.
All leaders can help cultivate productivity and engagement by:
With that in mind, here are some ways to develop a workforce that’s both engaged and productive.
1. Stay focused on engagement.
You guessed it: they’re both important. Employee productivity and engagement are not the same thing and achieving one won’t necessarily guarantee the other. Both are needed to ensure that organizations are making the biggest impact possible and seeing the results they need to be successful.
This means that HR professionals should continue to focus on engagement, but also share the responsibility. You can follow through by helping to create a workplace that supports and values employees.
Many people will read this article, but only those who take action will see the benefits. If you’re ready to think outside the engagement box, ORG is here to help.
We’re experienced. We know what works. We’ve seen consistent results. The efforts we’ve mentioned (as well as several others in our arsenal) have proven to drive the change that will dramatically boost employee selection, engagement, and productivity—and ultimately your business’s bottom line.
Don’t let hard work deter you from moving forward. Start today by evaluating where your employees currently stand and how you rate as a leader. No matter where your organization currently falls on the engagement spectrum, we’re here to listen and answer your questions. No problem is too big (nor too small).
Want to learn more? Take a look at our best practices for boosting productivity through employee commitment.
Still hungry for info? Check out these transformational insights:
When the way you’re working isn’t working, ORG can help. By fostering collaboration, boosting engagement, aligning goals, and implementing sustainable change, we can increase performance by two to three times your current goal— or more. Ready to work together?