70% of US workers are not engaged at work – here’s how to improve employee engagement

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Knowing how to improve employee engagement can certainly solve many challenges present in the modern workplace. To begin with, it could reduce the staggering loss incurred by organizations, which runs to the tune of $450-$550 billion every year. But is it really as easy as it sounds?

Employee engagement refers, broadly, to the extent to which employees are passionate about their jobs, committed to your organization, and make a discernible effort when it comes to their duties and responsibilities.

Given the state of the economy and the staggering level of student debt young graduates carry around, finding a job that, both, pays well and one that’s aligned with their passions is difficult. Many choose a regular paycheck over a satisfying and engaging job in the short run at least.

This, however, doesn’t have to be the case. In our post today, we dive into a few strategies that look at how to improve employee engagement. How have you tackled this in the workplace? Let us know in the comments!

Using gamification and AI-driven ‘nudges’ to keep employees motivated and engaged

At a time where AI is helping employers finetune HR management processes, finding tools that keep employees motivated is much easier than before.

In addition to this, big data, analytics tools, and machine learning are coming together to improve employee retention. Through the use of these tools, gamification that’s personalized to an employee’s working style is being developed to provide customized quips that keep every worker on track.

Humu’s Nudge Engine, which has big names like Laszlo Bock, Google’s former HR chief, behind its inception, is an app that aims to use behavioral science and machine learning to deliver ‘nudges’ to employees throughout the day, keeping them motivated and engaged.

Introducing psychometric testing to the workplace

If you’ve been wondering how to improve employee engagement – and if gamification and AI-driven tools sound expensive – workplace psychometric tests are a cheat code to higher engagement.

While this all comes down to choosing the right test, psychometric surveys and platforms don’t just identify personality types, they also identify unique workplace attitudes, mentalities, and behaviors. If you’ve got discerning employers at the helm of your organization – or if you, yourself, are one – you will find out how to use this information in a way that leads to tangible outcomes.

The recent example of a nurse from Dallas who joined Bon Secours Mercy Health and used a psychometric test – which identified that she was better suited as an emergency response nurse as opposed to one on a labor and delivery team – who now loves her job, is a heartening example of the real-life implications of these tests.

As such, psychometric-driven personality tests not only allow individuals to match their skills and attitudes with the right job but also give recruiters insights into hidden traits that determine how engaged a candidate will be at work.

Schedule frequent feedback sessions with your employees

As humans, we all love or are, at least, keen on hearing how we’re progressing when it comes to certain activity. This is especially the case when it comes to feedback on our work.

One way you can boost employee engagement in the workplace is by providing your employees feedback on how they’re doing, where they need improvement, and especially the areas in which they’re doing well.

This gives your employees a clear direction, i.e. where they need to work harder and improve, and also validates their sense of worth and affirms their contribution to the workplace!

Still stuck wondering how to improve employee engagement?

Improving employee engagement isn’t easy – that’s understandable. Given the extensive research done in this area and the tools that are emerging, however, there’s no excuse for high turnover and poor performance.

To begin your transformation into an organization where your employees are committed to outcomes, are productive, and are engaged with the work they’re doing, start small. Invest in a comprehensive, multi-purpose psychometric test to give your employees a push in the right direction.

Author: Raghu Misra