Engagement: What We're All Looking For
The Current State
Strengths Coach and Engagement Consultant, Chris Heinz shared in THIS article about what the research says about employee engagement, something we're all looking for.
According to Gallup research only 34% of American employees are engaged. Heinz makes the point that 66% of employees are disengaged at some level.
The Problem With Employee Disengagement
There are 3 tiers of engagement demonstrated.
Can you see this in your organization?
1.) Engaged Employees are dedicated, emotionally connected to their work and workplace and willing to "give their best, discretionary effort."
2.) Disengaged employees bring their physical presence but are working at the minimum level required.
3.) Actively Disengaged employees are enabled influencers. They have the potential to share their disengagement and misery to others.
“Great workplaces don’t happen by chance - they take intention and effort. You can build a place where employees love to work.”
Heinz asks why employers have allowed the "permissible disease" of 66% of employee disengagement in the workplace to remain without intentional change.
The financial cost of disengagement
According to Forbes Magazine, $3,400. is lost for every $10,000. The cost builds per year:
Salary 1: $47,000. = $15,980.
Salary 2: $60,000. = $20,400.
Salary 3: $80,000. = $27,200.
Heinz notes that this is the cost of one employee for one year. For growing organizations with 66% of disengaged employees the cost of 50 employees earning $47,000. per year is costing you $800,000. each year!
What could you do with this money not lost?
Reclaiming the True Purpose of Work
Tami Simon, Founder and Publisher of Sounds True, tells of wise words from Sister Joan Chittister, an 86-year-old active Benedictine nun. The topic was "A Spirituality of Work."
Sister Joan writes, "The most telling indicator of the spiritual deterioration of the Western world may be its distortion of the purpose of work. In this culture, we work so we can do something other than work as soon as possible. We work for personal profit, not for the good of the human race."
Sister Joan continues, "A spirituality of work is a process by which you finally come to know that your work is God’s work... unfinished by God because God meant it to be finished by you."
To this, Tami Simon adds, “What if we saw our work as holy, as an expression of what we care about, an opportunity to create, to solve collective problems, and to give to others? I believe that is possible for each of us. And then our work doesn’t become a means to some future end but a type of ongoing, dare I say it, ministry.”
The Solution to Employee Engagement
Chris Heinz reminds employers and business owners that "Great workplaces don't happen by chance - they take intention and effort. You can build a place where employees love to work."
Heinz provides a few ways to engage employees for results, retention and rapport including:
* Identify Employee Strengths so that they know what they're good at. In addition to internal influence consider the benefits of brining positive engagement into the workplace, front and center. Intentionally engage your team and community. Take the initiative that changes these outcomes. What can you do in this current season that will provide you and your team with great results, satisfaction and ongoing engagement?
* Offer Growth Opportunities so the team can see their own progress individually and collectively. Your team wants to grow in knowledge, skills and personal insight. Bring them the very best.
Here are a Few Testimonials of the Engaging Work We’ve Done Together!
“Thanks for the invite today to Josh’s presentation. It was AMAZING!”
“First I really want to say thank you so much for being in our office on Friday. What you brought to the table was wonderful and absolutely eye opening!Thank you for making me aware of myself, my feelings and what I’ve been pushing down..and not dealing with. I realize I’ve always got one foot out the door. Very emotional for me.You are appreciated!”
“I wanted to say thanks for the invite to the presentation today, not at all what I expected, and was absolutely amazing!”
“Thanks again for helping us go through our strengths. It was big for all of us. I loved it so much and it was so important we should be sharing this with all of our people.”
Josh Neuer is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Greenville, SC. Josh helps individuals, families, businesses and communities receive hope and healing that literally changes the world! Josh is passionate about empowering meaningful change in people including growing communities and team cultures. He is the founder of Joshua Neuer, LLC Counseling, a committed husband and father, and is absolutely crazy about relationships!