Picture this: a buzzing workplace where employees are motivated, passionate, and full of energy in 2023. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s not!
Engaging with employees is the secret sauce behind this kind of thriving work environment, and guess what? You can achieve it too!
In today’s fast-paced business world, engaging with employees is more critical than ever. It’s not just about making them happy (although that’s important too).
It’s about driving productivity, reducing turnover, and ultimately boosting your bottom line so you are engaging with employees. I think that’s worth repeating!
So, grab these 7 game-changing ways for engaging employees to set your company up for success! Here we go! 
Table of Contents
Idea 1: Open and Transparent Communication
A. Foster a culture of trust and openness. Create an environment where honesty is valued. Keep everyone in the loop with regular updates, and watch morale soar. For example, hold weekly team meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and upcoming projects.
B. Encourage two-way communication. Invite employees to share their thoughts and ideas. Open dialogue leads to creative solutions and strengthens relationships. Consider setting up an anonymous feedback system or conducting regular employee surveys to gauge opinions.
C. Utilize various communication channels. Use meetings, newsletters, and chat apps to keep communication flowing. The more channels you use, the better connected your team will be. Experiment with different tools to find what works best for your team.
Idea 2: Employee Recognition and Appreciation
A. Implement regular recognition programs. Celebrate individual and team achievements. Publicly acknowledge hard work and let your employees know they’re valued. Host an annual award ceremony to recognize top performers.
B. Personalize appreciation efforts. Tailor your recognition to each employee. Personal touches make employees feel special and appreciated. Write handwritten thank-you notes, or give personalized gifts that show you’ve paid attention to their interests.
C. Involve peers in the recognition process. Encourage employees to nominate their peers for recognition awards. This creates a sense of camaraderie and boosts engaging with employees.
Idea 3: Professional Development Opportunities
A. Offer training and skill-building programs. Invest in your employees’ growth. Provide resources and opportunities to help them excel in their roles. Organize workshops, webinars, or bring in guest speakers to share their expertise.
B. Encourage continuous learning and development. Foster a culture of lifelong learning. As your employees grow, so does your business. Offer tuition reimbursement or access to online courses. But make sure that the courses and programs are relevant!
C. Provide opportunities for career advancement. Create clear career paths and promote from within whenever possible. Encourage employees to set long-term career goals and support their efforts to achieve them. I took a year off to do an MBA.
Idea 4: Inclusive and Collaborative Environment
A. Encourage teamwork and collaboration. Promote a culture of teamwork. When employees work together, they achieve more. Organize team-building activities, like escape rooms or volunteering events, to strengthen bonds and engaging with employees.
B. Create a supportive work culture. Be there for your employees. A supportive environment boosts morale and engagement. Implement mentorship programs that connect experienced employees with newer team members to foster growth and camaraderie.
C. Promote diversity and inclusion. Celebrate the unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of your employees. Encourage open discussions on diversity and inclusion and offer training to raise awareness and foster understanding.
We’re more than half-way there! On to idea 5 next 
Idea 5: Well-being and Work-Life Balance
A. Prioritize mental and physical health. Encourage self-care and healthy habits. A healthy team is a happy, productive team. Offer wellness programs, like yoga classes. Some findings suggest that employers see as much as $4 of a return for every $1 invested.
B. Establish flexible work arrangements. Support work-life balance with flexible schedules. This shows employees you care about their well-being. Experiment with remote work options or flexible hours to accommodate personal commitments.
C. Encourage taking breaks and time off. Remind employees to take regular breaks throughout the day and to use their vacation time. A well-rested workforce is more productive and happier. When I have prioritised work over family life, it has always been a mistake!
Idea 6: Goal Setting and Performance Feedback
A. Set clear and achievable goals. Give your team direction. Clearly defined goals help employees stay focused and motivated. Work together to establish SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that align with company objectives.
B. Offer constructive feedback and support. Regularly evaluate performance and provide guidance. Employees thrive when they know how to improve. Schedule quarterly performance reviews and offer actionable feedback to help them grow.
C. Celebrate successes and learn from failures. Acknowledge when goals are met and use setbacks as learning opportunities. This approach fosters a growth mindset and reminds your leaders of the importance of engaging with employees 
Idea 7: Empower Employees to Make Decisions
A. Delegate decision-making authority. Trust your employees. Give them the autonomy to make decisions and watch them rise to the challenge. Start by delegating smaller tasks, then gradually increase their responsibilities as they prove their capabilities.
B. Support employee innovation and ideas. Encourage creativity and listen to your team. New ideas drive growth and keep your business ahead of the curve. Hold brainstorming sessions or create an innovation challenge to inspire fresh thinking. It works for my team!
C. Create a sense of ownership. When employees feel responsible for their work, they’re more likely to be engaged and committed. Encourage employees to take ownership of their work and results. This one resonates with me as a coach!
FAQ for engaging with employees
(Yes.. we hear these a lot) 
A. How can I measure employee engagement?
Good question! Use a combination of KPIs, employee surveys, and direct feedback to evaluate your engagement initiatives.
Regularly review this data to ensure you are engaging with employees.
B. How do I create a culture of engagement?
That’s the $1M dollar question. Lead by example. Be transparent, communicate openly, and show genuine appreciation for your team. I learned to do it, so you can too!
Foster an inclusive, supportive work environment where employees feel empowered to contribute their best.
Check out our interview with Kim Scott and Trier Lynn Bryant 
C. How do I engage remote employees?
Since COVID, we hear this a lot. One ideas is to use video conferencing and collaboration tools to maintain communication for engaging with employees.
Offer remote team members the same opportunities for professional development and recognition as in-office employees.
Schedule virtual team-building activities to maintain strong connections. This is so under-rated. A client of mine in Austin TX made a point of taking his team out to lunch once a quarter. I was amazed at the difference in engagement. You will be too 
Let’s wrap this up!
Before you get going, here’s a helpful checklist to summarise you focus on engaging with employees:
- Open and transparent communication
- Employee recognition and appreciation
- Professional development opportunities
- Inclusive and collaborative environment
- Employee well-being and work-life balance
- Goal setting and performance feedback
- Empower employees to make decisions
People 
are your most important strategic resource. The clever people on your team know this. So engaging with employees isn’t optional, it’s imperative if you want to keep them!
The impact of effectively engaging with employees cannot be overstated. Put these 7 ideas into action and watch your workplace transform.
Productivity will soar, turnover will shrink, and your team will thrive. Over to you! 
