Employee engagement is one of the easiest ways to increase motivation and productivity while reducing absenteeism and employee turnover. In 2019, you either embrace employee rewards or you drop behind your competitors!
Employee engagement is not just a department in your company or a growth strategy. It is a new way of thinking which gives you the competitive advantage you need to excel in your industry!
Why do employees feel demotivated?
The reasons for feeling demotivated could be different depending on the person. However, some of the most common ones include not feeling recognized or valued, having unrealistic goals and workload and being constantly micromanaged.
When employees are not given credit for the good job they have performed, they become demotivated and lose interest. A simple recognition or reward given by their team lead or manager can make all the difference!
What is employee engagement and why is it important?
Did you know that the number 1 reason people leave their job is because of feelings of underappreciation? This is why employee engagement is so crucial not only for talent retention but also for higher job satisfaction levels. However, what exactly is employee engagement?
Employee engagement includes many factors – from being intellectually engaged with your job to feeling positively about your work and being socially engaged with your colleagues. In a nutshell, it is all about making sure that your staff is feeling satisfied with their job and feels appreciated and respected at work.
One of the biggest trends we have seen so far in 2019 is that employee engagement is becoming more and more important. Various programs aimed at increasing employee motivation are introduced by different companies daily.
In addition, feedback is becoming omnipresent. This includes not only feedback from your teammates or your manager but also customer feedback. Often reward systems are tied to customer feedback so that employees can see the direct impact they make to the final customer.
Employee Engagement vs. Employee Recognition
What is the difference between employee engagement and employee recognition? The two terms are very similar and often used in the same context. In addition, increasing employee engagement and employee recognition often leads to similar results, namely higher job satisfaction and productivity.
However, the main difference is that employee recognition is based on the achievement of tasks or accomplishing of goals and being rewarded for it, while employee engagement includes a wider range of actions to increase employee motivation. If you want to learn more on employee engagement, read our article on “10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Employee Recognition.”
How to become an employee engagement expert?
The professionals in the employee engagement industry share some common qualities. They inspire those around them and bring positive energy in the working place! They motivate their colleagues to do better and to try harder. In addition, they are organized and diligent people and follow through on their tasks and projects.
Furthermore, they are flexible and open to different opinions. Often an employee recognition professional has to handle multiple things at once. This requires adaptability and flexibility so that you can handle information coming from different sources all at the same time.
In addition, they are liked by their peers and are people’s persons. If you want to find out what other qualities employee engagement expert share, check out our article “9 Signs You Are an Employees Engagement Expert”. By adopting those qualities, you will be on your way to becoming one of the top experts in the employee engagement industry!
The biggest trends we have seen in employee motivation this year
Employee motivation is one of the top priorities of many managers who want to see their team productivity increase. In addition, many businesses are realizing the potential of employee motivation. When companies start witnessing any of the 10 signs you should invest in employee motivation, the next step is to introduce an employee rewards program.
Some of the newest trends in employee motivation in 2019 revolve around including feedback-based employee rewards programs. This includes not only feedback from one’s teammates or manager but also customer feedback. Nowadays, reward systems are tied to customer feedback so that employees can see the direct impact they make to the final customer.
How to use customer feedback to drive employee motivation?
1. Create products your customers actually want
By asking your customers for feedback, you can truly gain a lot of insights into what kind of products and services they actually want. You can better understand how they are using your current products and what issues they are experiencing. By analyzing your customer feedback, you can see where the demand lies. Thus, by gaining a deeper understanding of your customers, you can motivate your employees to deliver exactly what your customers want.
2. Base rewards on customer feedback
One of the best changes that technology has brought about in the employee engagement industry is the opportunity to connect rewards to customer feedback. Therefore, base rewards not only on tasks being achieved but also on the positive feedback received by customers. In this way, your employees will see the direct impact they have on the final customer. Furthermore, you can also show appreciation for the individual employee as well as the team when the team effort solves the customer’s problem. Giving rewards to your employees will encourage more dedication and will reinforce positive behaviour.
Finally, by investing in a rewards program, you will not only increase your employee motivation but also increase their engagement levels, job satisfaction and productivity. Employee rewards are a wonderful way to show your staff that you care about them and you value their efforts. And if you are still on the lookout for an exceptional employee rewards tool, check out BRAVO!
