Every organization needs employee engagement activities to have a truly engaged workforce that consistently goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional results. But ask a company at random what they’re doing to keep engagement high, and you’re likely to hear about only a few, scattershot efforts, if any. Unfortunately, many organizations have yet to realize that only paying lip service to the importance of employee engagement often yields worse results than ignoring it entirely.
If you want your company to stand apart from the pack of unengaged workplaces, you’ve come to the right place. These 12 activities run the gamut from consistent practices that elevate the employee experience to more structured occasions that break up the tedium of the work week. And the best part — these activities are within reach for just about every organization, no matter its size or industry.
1. Recognize and reward employees for big wins and small moments
Taking advantage of every opportunity to recognize a fellow team member is an ongoing activity that can act as the most impactful driver of employee engagement at your organization. The goal is to build a culture of appreciation where every effort, no matter how small, is acknowledged. Frequent, sincere expressions of gratitude, whether a brief thank you, a handwritten note, or personalized gift, create a positive atmosphere where employees feel valued and motivated to excel.
Recognition and rewards are most meaningful when they’re tailored to the individual — but it can be hard to find the perfect gift, or the right words, even for team members you know well. An employee recognition platform solves this conundrum through a points-based rewards system, along with letting every employee show appreciation with only the click of a button and a few keystrokes. Look for software that includes fun social recognition features and is backed by a marketplace that lets team members choose virtually anything they can think of with the points they receive.
An employee recognition solution lets your team members practice recognition openly and transparently, so others can join in with their own messages of well-deserved thanks. This collective celebration reinforces the idea that every team member’s contributions are vital to the organization’s success, promoting a sense of belonging and boosting engagement.