By Jona Ohm, APR 

Engagement. It used to be just the formal acceptance of a marriage proposal. Today, it’s a measurement of how people respond to your brand. If you have employees, understanding how your people are engaging at work (or not) is important to your future success. 

Being engaged at work – or employee engagement – means an employee feels passionate about their work and motivated to help the company achieve its goals. It also speaks to an employee’s commitment to their job and the organization. It’s easy to understand why companies want to measure and improve this quality. 

Actively engaged team members tend to be highly involved in their workplace and enthusiastic about everything happening there, from their own work to relationships with other staff and meeting the goals of the organization’s mission. They drive high performance and innovation, all of which help the organization move forward. 

Employee engagement goes beyond basic job satisfaction; it’s about fostering connections between employees and the company. Nurturing this relationship has become a key factor in what it takes for organizations to excel. 

One of the most potent tools for achieving higher employee engagement is effective internal communication. Here are four tips to get your business pointed in the right direction. 

1. Cultivate a Transparent Workplace Culture

Transparency is the best foundation for a strong workplace culture. When employees feel they have access to honest and open communication from managers and executives, they are more likely to trust their organization and engage with their work on a deeper level. Here’s how you can promote transparency:

• Regular Updates and Information Sharing
  Share important updates about the company’s performance, goals, and challenges. Transparency means being forthcoming with employees about both successes and setbacks, as well as the company’s vision for the future. This helps employees understand their role in achieving those goals.
• Encourage Questions and Feedback
  Create an environment where employees feel comfortable asking questions and providing feedback. Open-door policies, suggestion boxes and regular feedback sessions are a few ways to achieve this. Actively listening to their concerns and addressing them promptly will build trust.
• Use Technology Wisely
  Digital tools like intranet platforms, email newsletters and instant messaging are important pieces for efficient and widespread communication. However, they can have the opposite effect if they aren’t managed properly. Information must be easily accessible and up-to-date without exception. Ask for feedback from employees about the best ways to reach them and then act on it.

2. Foster Two-Way Communication

Effective internal communication goes both ways. Valuable dialogue requires active participation from both employees and management. Here’s how to foster two-way communication:

• Employee Surveys
  Regularly conduct surveys to gauge employee satisfaction, gather suggestions, and identify pain points. Use the feedback to make informed decisions and show employees that their opinions matter.
• Town Hall Meetings and Workshops
  Organize regular town hall meetings where leadership communicates updates, and employees can ask questions and provide input. Workshops and training sessions can also enhance communication skills among employees and managers and give them common ground to work from when communication challenges arise.
• Employee Advocates and Ambassadors
  Identify and train employee advocates who can act as liaisons between staff and leadership. These advocates will help bridge communication gaps and ensure that concerns are addressed effectively.

3. Connect Employees to the Company’s Larger Mission

Employees who understand how their work contributes to the company’s overall mission are more engaged and motivated.

• Share the Little Wins
  While it’s important to highlight stories of employees who have made a significant impact on the company’s mission, don’t forget the day-to-day operations that move those big tasks forward. Customer service people, maintenance staff and those who make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes are examples of folks who aren’t generally in the spotlight unless something goes wrong. Show appreciation to them regularly and be sure everyone knows the role they play in executing the company’s larger mission. Both outstanding and routine success stories serve as inspirational examples to staff members and demonstrate the real-world significance of everyone’s work.
• Align Goals and Values
  Ensure that individual and team goals are aligned with the company’s mission and values. When employees see their work as a meaningful contribution to something greater, they are more likely to stay engaged.
• Say it Often and Say it Loud
  Reiterate the company’s mission and values through various communication channels, including internal newsletters, meetings and visual displays in the workplace. Keep the mission at the forefront of employees’ minds.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, walk the walk.

Managers and the executive team must exemplify actively engaged behavior and talk about the things that drive them. Transparency, two-way communication and a strong connection to the company’s mission all play vital roles in fostering engagement.

By prioritizing these strategies, organizations can help employees feel valued, motivated, and deeply connected to the success of the company. In turn, this heightened engagement can drive productivity, innovation, and ultimately, the long-term success of the organization. At Avant Solutions, we’re committed to equipping leaders with the tools and strategies they need to communicate effectively with their most important audience – their employees.