Engaging Everyone

Engagement programs should involve and have an impact on the entire team and every aspect of the business.

Contingent workers account for a growing percentage of the average company’s team. So engagement programs should take into account contingent as well as full-time employees.

Social networking sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, are becoming more popular for touting employee contributions and bringing in new talent. Internal networking tools, including company intranets, also acknowledge performance and connect employees with peers, the study said.

Companies vary in their use of technology, depending on their needs. Many use performance management systems, employee self-service portals and learning management systems.

Organizations need to allocate resources properly. An investment in engagement should “dovetail the company’s growth strategy,” the report said.

Engagement programs can fail due to a lack of ownership.”Ideally, engagement should be driven by senior leaders, designed by HR and then implemented consistently by managers,” the report said.

Although top-level support is crucial, managers play a major role in engagement. “Unlike senior executives, managers need clear lines of communication with employees and need to execute this strategy consistently for every direct report,” according to the study.

Communication is not a one-way street. It should be “consistent, bi-directional and involve both internal and external parties,” according to the Aberdeen report. “Employers must be willing to accept honest feedback from these individuals.”

Engagement plans should include opportunities for employee development. Employees are “more likely to invest in a company that invests in them,” the Aberdeen report said.

Organizations need to understand the difference between “rewards” and “recognition,” and properly integrate the two. Rewards (or incentives for accomplishing goals) can help employees reach milestones, and recognition (or the regular acknowledgment of contributions and abilities) offers workers encouragement, the study said.