Are Your Employees Really Engaged? by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC
Every employee has good days and bad ones. But, too many bad ones may mean that your employee has lost their mojo. It’s not unusual to find employees experiencing a bit of burnout and failing to be as engaged as usual.
As a business owner or manager, it’s important to quickly recognize when your employees are less engaged than usual. You may notice habits like missing work more frequently, or you may notice an employee making more mistakes than usual. It can even be as simple as the employee not having their usual positive attitude or failing to provide the customer service you expect from your employees.
Once you have identified that an employee is less engaged than normal, it is important to address the issue quickly. The longer the problem persists, the more the employee is to grow dissatisfied with their job. In addition, their lack of engagement will affect your business, either through sales, quality or customer satisfaction.
Sometimes the problem can be solved with a little time off, or a simple change in tasks. Once employees become bored with their day to day routines, a break in that routine can be very welcome and can be just what is needed to get them back on track.
In some cases, the employee is ready to move to a different position permanently, in order to grow as an employee. As a boss, it’s part of your job to try and recognize when employees are ready for more responsibility and to provide regular challenges to help them grow in their careers. Employees who know they will be constantly challenged and rewarded for their efforts are less likely to be disgruntled.
Offering an incentive or a contest may help if you have several employees who are feeling bored with their job routines. Such programs can generate excitement and healthy competition that makes the workplace a little more interesting.
Keeping your employees engaged is one great way to ensure your business provides your customers with the experience they desire. It’s also a great way to ensure your employees stay happy at work, so your team thrives on all the challenges you’ll face as you grow.