Are your employees connected to your business?
We recently surveyed a number of our clients and the number one challenge for employers two years after COVID is still staff engagement and particularly employee attraction and retention. It’s a challenge that’s been around for a while, so we have decided to take a deeper look into what’s underneath this.
The why behind employee disengagement and movement in the workplace.
General Motors CEO Anna Barra said: “You need Culture change” in a recent interview when asked about their people based challenges.
Employee engagement boosts productivity through increased focus, enthusiasm and energy and research also shows higher engagement results in lower absenteeism, lower rates of mental health issues, higher retention rates, higher levels of overall wellbeing with a major benefit being a greater customer experience.
But still employers find it challenging to keep their workforce engaged.
So, what’s the answer?
It’s simple: When an organisation is connected to a higher purpose, one that transcends their own self-interest, it creates a greater sense of meaning where employees are empowered to make a positive contribution.
As humans we are hard-wired for altruism and bringing a sense of purpose into the workplace may be the answer we’ve been searching for.
General Motors CEO, Anna Barra mentioned that every year at Global Safety Week, General Motors has a customer come in and tell their story of how a General Motors product saved their life.
“Stories stay with you…. That’s what keeps people motivated and gives them meaning. It’s focusing on the positive and showing the work we do and how important it is to people’s lives.”
A great way to “promote” stories is to implement a recognition program such as Brownie Points where positive feedback can be broadcast across the organisation. As the saying goes “what gets recognised gets repeated” so give your employees the platform to tell their stories.
We would love to know how you engage your employees.
Please feel free to contact us at info@browniepoints.com.au to share your story.
Tony Delaney, CEO Brownie Points.
