Employee engagement is a term used to describe when  employees have an emotional and cognitive connection to their workplace. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re happy with their salary or the hours, but it does indicate  that they care, and that investment  shows in their work. A Business Roundtable study found that companies with high levels of employee engagement outperformed those without by 202% in revenue growth and 133% in earnings growth.

There are many ways you can boost employee engagement,from recognizing  accomplishments to ensuring they know how much they’re needed and creating opportunities to grow professionally. But sometimes, the most important thing is to be there for your employees. When you’re not pushing them too hard or too fast, they’ll feel more valued and continue working at their best.

What is Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement can be defined as a person’s emotional attachment to their employer and the feeling that the organization’s mission and values are a good match with their own. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, high-quality work environments are characterized by three essential factors: employee involvement, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. This is the true meaning of employee engagement. Employers need to focus on these specific factors and improve them daily to create a high-quality work environment.

Types of Engagement Strategies

There are many different types of engagement strategies that work for different kinds of people. It is essential to find out what type of engagement strategy works best for your employees. For example, employees who need a pat on the back may not feel motivated by a monetary reward. In this case, it may be better to give them public recognition or a small gift. There are three types of engagement strategies that you can use to boost employee motivation:

1. Extrinsic/External Engagement Strategies. Extrinsic is the opposite of intrinsic. It means external or outside of you. Extrinsic rewards are those that come from the outside. They are easy to recognize and can include compensation, such as a monetary award or a raise in pay. Extrinsic rewards can also include public recognition, such as a plaque or a trophy.

2. Intrinsic/Internal Engagement Strategies. Intrinsic rewards are those that come from within you. Inherent tips include positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise, a thank you, and recognition. This type of reward is often potent because it comes from your peers, profoundly impacting employee behavior.

The American dream is alive, but fraying. Major employers are investing in their workers and communities because they know it is the only way to be successful over the long term.” 

Jamie Dimon, Chairman, and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Chairman of Business Roundtable. 

Tips for Achieving Employee Engagement

One of the most important aspects of a successful company is its employees. But, it’s not often easy to keep employees engaged and interested in their work. However, several strategies can help with this problem. 

Employee engagement strategies are essential to be successful. Companies need to find ways to engage their employees if they want them to perform better and work harder.

Give Employees a Transformational Professional Development

Udacity launched individual enterprise courses that allow companies to invest in their employees and implement an internal talent transformation strategy. Connect with our Enterprise team to fully demonstrate how Udacity’s courses will improve your employee engagement.

Eraina Ferguson
Eraina Ferguson
Eraina Ferguson is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Udacity. Her recent monologue, Listen to Her, was read by actress Marla Gibbs and featured at the WACO Theatre’s 50in50 event. Her writing has been featured on NBC Universal, Red Tricycle, LA Parents Magazine, and the LA Times. Eraina lives in California with her husband and children.