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3 Awesome Ways To Boost Employee Engagement And Productivity

When it comes to creating a winning strategy to keep your employees happy and productive, it's really not a matter of science.

Photo: Zac Johnson, Online Marketer and Creator of Zacjohnson.com; Source: Courtesy Photo

Employee engagement sounds like something human resources folks should discuss on their own time. However, when you run a business — it really does matter.

With more people spending time at work, it’s important to make sure you’re not only providing a productive and safe space, but also an enjoyable one. With that said, let’s look at some effective, fun and creative ways to increase employee engagement and productivity in the workplace.

But first, let’s cover why employee engagement is important in the first place. The “Ultimate Guide to Employee Engagement” by SnackNation, highlights the following benefits:

 

  • Higher levels of productivity

  • A boost to your bottom line

  • Better retention rates of your top talent

  • An increased sense of health and well-being

  • And (surprisingly) decreased healthcare costs

 

Each of the benefits are sought after by high performance organizations. So, let’s look at 3 smart ways to achieve some of these results.

 

3 ways to improve employee engagement and productivity

A winning strategy to keep your employees happy and productive is not really a matter of science. Instead, it’s simply a matter of thinking about how you would like to be treated if you were in their position.

We’ve all worked for someone else at one point. If you recall, it was likely stupid little things that made some days worse than others. So, when you know what problems exist and how to fix them, you can see immediate improvements in productivity and engagement on all levels.

 

1. Create an ideal workspace for your team

Since the average person spends more time at work seated at their desks than ever before, it’s important to be in an enjoyable work environment. This isn’t just limited to your desk area; it’s about the total environment. A perfect example of this would be separate areas for eating, lounging, holding discussions and for those simply looking to take a break.

There are many ways to improve your workspace, which includes everything from color schemes, desk spacing, lighting and of course privacy. 

Some of the biggest names in business bring excitement to the workplace. Among this list of 18 amazing office and workplaces, for example, Wisconsin-based insurance company, Acuity  has a rock wall and a ferris wheel.

 

2. Clarify and define job roles

The debate about traditional job descriptions is ongoing. Employees should have an idea of their role and daily tasks. One of the worst and most stressful ways to treat employees is to continually assign work and tasks that far exceed beyond their role. This is especially true when it has nothing to do with the original role they were hired for.

Sure, there are times when everyone needs to pitch and take on some extra work. But making this a common scenario in the workplace can be detrimental to your business and the team. Even if you need a jack or jane of all trades, make this explicitly clear during the interview process.

The importance of effective role setting is often overlooked. It’s not just about finding the right person for the job or checking a task off the list. It’s about ensuring work is done efficiently and productively with a motivational and morale component as well. Once you factor this into the equation the role setting process become more effective, along with results.

 

3. Make health and wellness a workplace priority

With healthcare, insurance rates and coverage on everyone’s mind, it’s important to ensure your employees know and trust where they stand. Offer the best coverage possible. However, additional perks can go a long way. For example, you can offer gym memberships, healthy food trucks, nutritionist consults, group fitness classes, healthy vending options and more. Active and healthy employees will feel less sluggish throughout the day.

Business Insider reports that the average person sits “an average of 9.3 hours a day.” This kind of sedentary lifestyle is killing us!

 

At the end of the day, your bottom line is tied and your team’s happiness and wellness. You don’t have to be a VC-backed Silicon Valley startup to offer a world-class workplace and experience. Take these tips and make them your own. Your team will thank you for it!

 

This article has been edited.

Zac Johnson is an entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in the world of online marketing and branding. Stay up to date with Zac’s latest findings though this blog. Connect with @zacjohnson on Twitter.

 

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