When communication is lacking, the workplace tends to become an untrustworthy environment. Even if your team is excellent at their jobs, when communication is lacking, trust in each other disappears. That’s annoying, right?
Here’s the catch: communication isn’t a one-way street. It’s a two-way street. Just as you want your team to be constantly engaged with each other, they’re also silently looking to you to be a part of the conversation. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though. There’s more statistical evidence to support all of these claims. In this article, I’ve outlined a few research-backed insights you can use to maximize team productivity through employee engagement.
Now let's dig deeper.
More Commitment Means Less Absenteeism
On the surface, employee engagement may sound like a corporate buzzword argentina phone number resource but a study by Forbes reveals that professional teams in the top 20% of employee engagement saw a 41% reduction in absenteeism. Yep, you read that right; almost half of absenteeism.
But that’s not all. The study goes on to reveal another insight: businesses that cultivate a culture of high employee engagement saw a staggering 43% difference in employee turnover. Proving that “employee engagement” isn’t just a metric, it’s a game-changer for productivity.
Employee Engagement Results in More Sales and Profitability
Highly engaged organizations enjoy 10% higher customer reviews and 18% higher sales. What’s more, organizations where engagement is more than just a policy, it’s a way of life, and it makes a staggering 23% difference in profitability.
According to Gallup, this means that actively disengaged employees cost $350 billion annually worldwide.
That’s right, quitting your job isn’t just a mood killer; it’s also a budget buster.
Employee Engagement - Results in More Sales and Profitability
Source: Interact
Well-Connected Employees Are More Productive
A report by Connected Culture shows a strong link between well-connected employees and productivity. In this study, around 71% of employees who were connected to each other reported higher levels of productivity.
A McKinsey report supports this theory, finding that well-connected teams experience a 20 to 25 percent increase in productivity.
If you are not aware of these benefits, you are missing out.
Communication Goes a Long Way to Show Respect
Respect is a currency as important as salary in the workplace.
The focus here is on the upper echelons of management, especially team leaders, where phrases like “thank you” and “good job” are not enough to keep employees motivated. Communication must go beyond transactional gestures and become a genuine respect for the workforce.
In an employee engagement survey, 75% of frontline workers said they would rather be respected than thanked. This rate is higher among ethnic minorities, so diversity clearly plays a role here.
Belonging
Source: Beyond Blue
In a study conducted by Gallup, we see a direct link between respect and job performance. The data notes that 95% of individuals who are successful at work attribute their success to one common denominator: being treated with respect.
It may not be obvious, but respect is very important in the workplace.
Feedback is a Tool for Motivation
What most managers don't realize is that continuous feedback is not just a managerial task, but also an important tool for motivation and performance improvement.
A study by Oracle shows that nearly 4 in 10 employees are skeptical that their feedback will see implementation.
Yet amid this skepticism, 87% of employees want their voices to be heard, highlighting a universal belief that employers should actively listen to the needs of their workforce.
As a team leader, it’s important to understand that feedback is a collaborative endeavor, allowing you to improve processes with people so they can improve together.
Working Remotely Doesn't Mean Less Commitment
Remote and hybrid work models will continue to grow in 2024, with workers around the world reporting (Gallup) that they would quit their jobs in a heartbeat if they could find a position at a company that allowed them to work from home. As someone in a management position in a brick-and-mortar workplace, this is a tough situation for you.
But even if you’re in a remote workplace, in this all-important age, the spotlight is on employee engagement — it can make or break your company.
Positive company culture shouldn’t be a workplace luxury. It’s the secret sauce for improving job satisfaction and performance among remote workers. A report by McKinsey shows that remote workers who feel included in workplace communication are five times more productive.
So, remote working is not an excuse to set aside engagement. It’s a call to elevate engagement. In a digital age where the physical boundaries of the office are beginning to dissolve, the need for meaningful engagement is more vital than ever.
