Leading employees during difficult times as seen during the Covid19 crisis can seem almost impossible – especially if working from home is not something you or your team particularly enjoys and have been forced into.
Staying connected and engaged despite social distancing is not only possible but of the utmost importance. Here in this article we will cover a few key points:
- Why is employee engagement so important?
- How to get engaged with purpose and routine
- How to stay engaged remotely
Why Is Employee Engagement So Important?
Engaging with your employees is perhaps one of the topmost important business strategies around today. Connecting routinely with your employees can have the following benefits:
- Reduce staff turnover
- Improve productivity
- Increase employee morale
- Higher retention of customers and clients
- Increase in profit margins
It is no secret that great employees equal better profit margins. A happy employee is one who is motivated and more likely to exceed your expectations in their given roles. Through connection and engagement, you are able to not only keep your employees motivated, but you will also significantly reduce turnover rates.
Strategies For Connecting And Staying Engaged
Understanding the importance of connecting with your employees is one thing, knowing how to successfully engage without your strategies flopping is a completely other matter. Here are a few ideas to start your employee engagement.
Give Them A Purpose
Nobody wants to work for a business with no purpose. Help your employees understand the importance of their position by establishing a company mission dedicated to your employees.
While many company missions are geared towards a customer audience, it’s important to include your employees as well. Knowing and understanding the company’s purpose from the inside will help your employees see why their role matters.
A good company mission will allow employees to establish an emotional connection and boost productivity. In turn, this motivation will transfer to your customers and clients through positive interactions. Remember – engagement breeds engagement, employees will better engage with clients and customers when they feel connected to the business.
Measure Your Engagement Routinely
While sending out a survey is a great way to measure employee engagement, it’s best to keep in mind that you are most likely capturing the current mood of your employees.
This is why it is important to check in with your employee satisfaction regularly for a more accurate reading of whether or not your strategies are working. Open dialogue and communication will give you every advantage in ensuring your employees remain in top form.
Don’t Falter In Your Employee Engagement
Engaging with your employees is definitely not a ‘one and done’ fad. Show your employees that you are consistent and care about them as individuals. If you falter in your efforts to connect with them then you run the risk of alienating your staff.
Here is a great list of ways to connect with your employees through engagement:
- Get to know your employees by spending time with them
- Give them tools for success
- Keep them informed on internal company news
- Let them grow – help your employees reach their full potential
- Support your employees during conflicts – With customers or fellow staff, provide support to all with teachable moments
- Provide an anonymous way to give feedback
- Listen and implement feedback – even through simple actions!
- Encourage teamwork
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ways of connecting with your employees, and many of these tips work remotely as well!
How To Stay Connected Remotely
The best way to stay connected to your employees is to simply reach out. It’s as simple as that. Just because you are not face to face with each other, does’t mean you should miss out on communicating with your employees!
If anything, communication during the new standards of working-from-home is even more crucial to keeping employee morale boosted and to make sure they are fully aware that you have not forgotten them.
Use Available Technology
There are a number of free programs and apps available that allow for a semblance of face-to-face interaction. With a video conference, you will better be able to connect with your employees. Some popular video communication apps include:
- Facetime
- Skype
- Zoom
- Google Hangouts
- Slack
Many of the aforementioned apps even have screen-share capabilities that will allow you to work closely with your employees and discuss remote projects.
Be Upfront And Honest
Working remotely is tough for many of us, we begin to question the impact of the Covid19 crisis on the company we work for and with many businesses shutting down or even laying off their employees – it’s understandable that there may be some insecurities.
Speak to your employees. Assure them that they are valuable members of your team and discuss the pros and cons of the present situation and what the plan of action is for the weeks and months to come.
Brainstorm with them to help them feel included in the process and ask them to complete small tasks from home that can help the collective business bounce back from the slow periods.
Open, honest, and direct communication is the best tool to stay connected with your employees. Let them know how they can help. People love to feel needed and in times like this, those feelings are needed more than ever.
If you are able, come up with a small to-do list for your employees as it will not only help the business but it will keep them in a healthy working mindset so they’re better prepared to come back to the office once the social distancing requirements end.
Encourage Them To Relax
Let’s face it, downtime isn’t just for businesses but people as well! During all of this social distancing, your employees are most likely going to develop some cabin fever. Which unfortunately for many, can lead to anxiety and even depression.
Encourage your employees to relax and enjoy the extra time they have at home. Spend time with their families, catch up on some reading, get a new hobby or enjoy a current one. While working is important, their mental health should always come first.
Consider Sending An Appreciation Gift
Lazer Designs can drop ship a personalized gift directly to the home of your hard working team. It may be a good idea to provide your employees with a small appreciation gift. Something simple that will let them know that they are valued.
While branded stationery gifts are good they don’t always send the message of “You’re valued and we know it.” Many of your employees most likely have families staying home with them. So why not consider drop-shipping a gift directly to their home that the entire family can enjoy?
Tasty snacks such as flavored popcorn and ice cream go a long way. When you can’t send ice-cream, send a laser engraved scoop. Change up a delicious flavored popcorn gift and make it extra special by including a personalized laser engraved stainless steel popcorn bowl. These gifts are guaranteed to put a smile on your recipient’s face!
For a smaller gift that will keep on giving, consider a useful personalized small-sized multitool, or a custom laser engraved pen. Fully functional, useful, practical, and a fantastic way to say “thank you!”
Final Thoughts
Staying connected through engagement with your employees is of the utmost importance for all businesses. Whether we are stuck in the office or stuck at home we are all in this together and so long as we stay connected through engagement, we’ll make it through.
Take a look at our other helpful articles!
- COVID Care Packages
- Tips To Work From Home Successfully
- 20 Items You Need In Your Emergency Preparedness Kit
- Stay In Touch With Clients & Survive Working From Home
- Managing Your Business During Slow Times
