EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Why Employee Engagement is Important for Your

Organization

Presented byColumbus Area Labor-

Management Committee

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Your Presenters:

Dr. Jim CowlesExecutive Director

Meredith PorterfieldProgram Manager

Columbus Area Labor-Management Committee

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

What Is It?According to Wikipedia:An "engaged employee" is one who isfully involved in, and enthusiastic

abouttheir work, and thus will act in a waythat furthers their organization'sinterests.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Why Is Employee Engagement Important? Organizations today face tremendous

challenges. Customer demands Rapid change

Doing things the same way isn’t working any more.

Need more and new ideas to face the competition.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Why Is Employee Engagement Important?

Helps with job retention Can encourage more flexible

environments Better use of limited resources.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Basic Principles: The person who does a job usually knows

the most about that job. Most people want to be informed and

involved. Everyone deserves a voice in determining

their own future. Healthy organizations are in everybody’s

interest.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT People drive change. People make the difference. Unless people are involved and

committed to making fundamental change, any employee engagement process will not work.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Advantages: Greater productivity & efficient use of

time. Better workplace communication. Improved relationships and higher

trust levels between employees and management.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Advantages: Can be effective in unionized or non-

unionized organizations. Opportunity for REAL problem-

solving.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

How do you achieve it?

Develop a culture where employees feel valued and can contribute their ideas freely.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

How do you achieve it? Make the commitment to the process Select a team or teams Provide training Identify a problem Use good problem solving processes Work to solve the problem, not affix

blame

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

How do you achieve it? Need to demonstrate commitment

through actions, not just words Have an open mind and be willing

to take some risks Actively listen to employee ideas

and provide feedback

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

How do you achieve it? May have to go the “extra mile” to

show the importance of doing this, develop trust

Start with a small project or something most would agree is important.

Sometimes better to have outside facilitator to help

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Be aware – this process: Not easy Be patient. It takes time and

determination – not a quick fix Not a cookie-cutter approach

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Be aware – this process: Must be consistent – all the time,

not stop & start No finger pointing

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Be aware – this process: There must be mutual respect

and empathy, treat each other as equals

Must be honest, share information

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

A Word About Professional Outside Assistance:

Can make a new process easier Confronting issues can be difficult when everyone has a stake in them

Can help keep the process moving Professionals bring experiences from other

organizations

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

A Word About Professional Outside Assistance:

Help build trust Can help build a more cohesive team Professionals have tools and techniques to

help groups as needed Can be more cost efficient

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

For more information or assistance with your employee engagement process, contact:

Columbus Area Labor-Management Committee

http://calmc.org