Seven Tools to Help In Workplace Engagement

Engaged employees are the most coveted asset every organization desires for.

I've talked?before?about employee engagement and the need for it, and some of the ways to help increase employee engagement.

Let's get to the list of 7 tools that can help organizations in driving workplace engagement initiatives.

1. Survey Tools

Engagement surveys are an excellent way to understand what is essential for your employees. Surveys give your employees a voice and provide you with an overview of their engagement level. Asking for their feedback and working on it also demonstrates compassion and empathy, which works as a morale booster.

According to a?report, 77% of the employees are willing to extend their workday if their employer is empathetic, and 60% would accept lower salaries if the boss is compassionate.

Fortunately, leaders or managers don't have to spend a lot of time or resources to conduct such regular engagement surveys. There are now software solutions and platforms (free and paid) exclusively created for sending out surveys and collecting feedback.?

Select a survey tool based on your needs and budget. However, I’d recommend considering a few following features when selecting a tool, such as the user experience offered by the tools, data segmentation and analytics capabilities, GDPR compliance, and integration capabilities with existing technologies employed by your organization.?

2. Communication Tools

Communication is again very critical for employee engagement. A simple "How are you doing?" can make the employees feel respected, valued, and appreciated.

According to an?Expert Market survey, 97% of the workers believe communication impacts their everyday tasks.

With the hybrid work models now as the norm, this could be an excellent opportunity for businesses and leaders to start prioritizing communication.?

Again there are quite a few tools that can help you align the communication channels and help make team collaboration easier in your organization. Again consider a few important points before you make your decision, such as privacy and security of data, ease of use, integration capabilities, degree of customization allowed, pricing, etc.??

3. Employee Recognition Tools

It is through recognition that employees see themselves as valued members of a company. It provides them with a feeling that their contribution is vital for their employer, motivating them to perform better.?

A survey involving 1,700 respondents by?Achiever?found a direct link between retention and recognition. The primary reason for 55% of the respondents to look for a new job was lack of recognition.

But the advancements in technology in the last decade have empowered us to track and measure abstract concepts, like employee satisfaction, with as much accuracy as sales goals or project deadlines.?

4. Goal Tracking Tools

For an organization to succeed, it is critical for the entire workforce to work towards the same goal. But as the VUCA world makes everyday functioning more challenging, it is very easy for your employees to lose direction in the process, making it difficult for the organization to achieve its objectives.

And I've seen that this phenomenon not just hurting the organization but even the engagement level of the employees. Digital solutions and platforms can help businesses set goals, share them with the employees, and track the progress in real-time.?

5. Performance Monitoring Tools

Every organization concerned about its success has to monitor employee performance effectively. But in the last few years, the traditional annual performance review setup has come under a lot of scrutiny. According to an?SHRM study, around 95% of the managers are not satisfied with how their company handles performance reviews.

Rather than a one-time annual review, I recommend businesses to switch to a culturally aligned and powerful process involving continuous feedback and regular check-ins on goals, development, and performance.

This updated process enables employee development, provides a deeper understanding of company performance, creates a culture of recognition, and boosts engagement.?

6. Management Improving Tools

The role of managers in boosting employee engagement is probably the most critical. As they deal with the employees on a daily basis, they are abundantly responsible for their overall experience and productivity in an organization.

As a leader, if you are concerned about building an army of agile leaders in your organization, the management team is where you should begin. Managers who regularly conduct meetings and assist employees in establishing and understanding responsibilities and goals significantly contribute to employee engagement.

Apart from regular training and development, it’s essential to provide your managers with the right tools to help them perform their duties more effectively. Rope in your managers and leaders to select the right tool that offers the right solutions.?

7. Wellness Tools

Employee engagement goes hand in hand with employee wellness. If the employees are not feeling well, it can be very challenging for them to deliver their best at work. Mental health is also a cause of concern, especially in this period when the world is recovering from a pandemic.

While you cannot control every aspect of their lives or resolve all of their problems, you sure can take smaller steps to make a difference.?

There are smart wellness tools today that help employees, leaders, and organizations measure and improve the wellness level of employees and thus organizations.?

The Employee Engagement Journey

It's exactly that - a journey. Engagement is never constant. Even your most enthusiastic employee will have days where they feel angst or dissatisfaction with the organization. In fact that's the time they need even more support.

In the last few years, businesses have started realizing the importance of employee engagement and how it is not a destination but a journey. These digital tools, software, and platforms can assist you in this journey, making it more efficient and rewarding for you and your team members.

Happy Travels!