Strategic HR

Avoid these 5 mistakes in employee engagement

By Anjum Khan

Employee engagement, which involves how employees feel about their work, is deeply connected to human emotions and varies from person to person. And for HR and talent leaders, fostering an engaging employee experience is equally important. However, as the workplaces are evolving with rapid digital transformation, while insecurities persist, it becomes challenging to build an engaged work culture.

Today, with significant changes in the workplaces driven by the AI adoption and influenced by geopolitical factors. To ensure sustained employee engagement in this evolving landscape, it's essential to closely analyse the work culture challenges within the organisation. And the first area to look at is how effective is your employee value proposition. “If employee engagement is to be built on during a period of transformation, a careful study is needed of the extent to which employees respect the organisation (including any acquiring or merging organisation) and respect the leadership of the organisation/transformation,” shared Clinton Wingrove, CEO & Principal Consultant at Clinton HR Ltd. in his insightful piece on the changing dynamics of employee engagement. 

While HR and talent professionals are reshaping work culture, they need to ensure that no mistakes are made in employee engagement during this transformative shift. Some of the mistakes that may make employee engagement ineffective are: 

#1 Unclear expectations, ineffective communication and feedback 

Clear communication and expectations from management are crucial when assigning work responsibilities. Without these, employees may become disengaged, leading to reduced productivity. From the initial stages of talent acquisition, maintaining clear communication is essential to ensure that new employees fully grasp their job responsibilities, understand the company's culture and values, and comprehend the expectations for their role. Including ‘Care’ in communication as well as feedback not only builds trust but also fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment among new employees, making them feel welcomed and supported in their journey to success. Providing transparent guidance on performance expectations and measurement criteria is equally important. This clarity helps new hires feel more confident in their ability to fulfil their role effectively and minimises delays in productivity.

#2 Ignoring employee well-being and work-life balance 

Ignoring your employees' well-being needs can result in serious consequences, including decreased morale, increased stress, burnout, and reduced productivity. Additionally, the lack of work-life balance is just one symptom of broader issues, such as burdened employees, inadequate flexible work policies, and ineffective support systems for managing wellness at work. As more employees in the region's workplaces face heightened levels of work stress, it's crucial to implement regular wellness checks. Employees thrive in workplaces that prioritise talent development and well-being, while also offering support for achieving a healthy work-life balance. Moreover, it's essential to recognise that today's workforce consists of multiple generations. Therefore, offering comprehensive wellness packages that can be personalised and are inclusive of every generation and their dependents will lead to better employee well-being. 

#3 Failing to reward and recognise employees 

The effectiveness of rewarding and recognising employees is often underestimated. Employees are more likely to go the extra mile when they receive regular appreciation, rewards, or recognition for their contributions. Organisations without effective reward and recognition policies face a higher risk of losing skilled talent, a mistake HR leaders must avoid. When employees feel valued and appreciated, they are more inclined to stay with the organisation for a longer duration. Therefore, the HR and talent team should implement effective reward programs and recognition initiatives to sustain better employee engagement and talent retention. And, it's important to note that rewards and recognition don't necessarily require a large budget.

#4 Lack of opportunities for professional growth and development 

While the organisation undergoes rapid digital transformation, it's crucial to assess whether your employees are adequately prepared for this change. Simply surveying them with ‘yes or no’ questions isn't sufficient to gauge their readiness. Often, employees may initially express enthusiasm but harbour concerns about their careers. Aligning the evolving nature of work with employees' skills is essential. Providing learning and training opportunities in areas such as AI skills, data-based technologies, and mundane work automation skills, can help prepare employees for the future of work. Continuous learning not only equips employees with relevant skills but also enhances their value to the organisation in the long run. HR and talent leaders can play a vital role in ensuring regular employee engagement. This can be achieved through initiatives such as fostering cross-collaboration culture, leadership mentoring, understanding employees' learning needs and aligning programmes with them, creating effective career roadmap, and involving them in co-creating the purpose of their work.

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#5 Not fostering a positive work culture and sense of belonging 

Modern workplaces hinge on employees feeling positive and a sense of belonging within the organisation. Yet, if an organisation perpetuates a gender pay gap, disregards diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, neglects employee experience, and overlooks attrition rates, it significantly heightens the risk of losing employee engagement—a clear red flag for employees. Furthermore, failing to understand the needs and priorities of talent can breed negativity and tarnish the organisation's reputation. Therefore, HR and talent professionals should build effective strategies fostering a positive work culture, where talent feels secure, happy, and engaged. Here are some books to refer to for building positive work cultures, where talent thrives.

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