By Wendy Sellers, The HR Lady
If you are in management, leadership or HR, you know the buzz is all about having engaged employees. So, what the heck does this mean and why should you care?
Definition: Employee engagement is the emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals. (Forbes.com)
Ok, so why is it important for your employee to have this emotional commitment? Can't they just do their #$%**! job? Sure, they can do the minimum requirements of the job to avoid being fired. But let's be honest, almost everyone is doing more with less time and less employees since the economy tanked. The flourish brought a crunched operating budget with revenue flow that is tight. For some industries the budget is flowing and so is the revenue - yet experienced, loyal and dedicated employees are no longer a dime a dozen. See, this is where the emotional commitment comes in. When your employee is dedicated to the job and to you, they will be less likely to be swept away by a competitor, they will be more likely to stay late/come in early and put in extra (paid or unpaid) hours to make sure the job is not only done - but done right, and they will be much more likely to tell their experienced, loyal and dedicated friends to come work for you and alongside them.
Satisfied employees come to work and do the job.
Satisfied employees gladly take the pay and benefits and even participate in the employee pool table tournament.
Satisfied employees do not always go the extra mile or take successes/losses personally.
Satisfied employees recommend their friends who want to be "just satisfied."
According to Towers Perrin research, companies with engaged workers have 6 percent higher net profit margins, and according to Kenexa research, engaged companies have five times higher shareholder returns over five years. (Forbes).
Call an HR consultant (such as The HR Lady) for advice to analyze and develop an engaged workforce.
Wendy Sellers has a master's degree in Human Resources, a master's degree in Health Care Administration, is a passionate HR Consultant, Leadership Coach, author, and speaker. She has worked with hundreds of corporations and associations conducting management training, leadership development, and HR advisory services. She has experience as an HR Executive and Practitioner, an HR Advisor, a Board Member, and an adjunct faculty member.
In additional to her formal education, Wendy is HR certified as an SHRM-SCP and SPHR, is health/life insurance licensed, is a Dale Carnegie course graduate, and is an active and past board member and volunteer for multiple non-profits and a National Speakers Association professional member. She also teaches the SHRM certification course. Visit www.thehrlady.com
