Employee engagement is a buzz phrase you may have come across while searching for a job or reading articles about developing your career. There are several definitions of employee engagement, but it’s generally described as the passion, extra effort, energy and commitment we feel towards our work.
As an engaged employee, you may often agree with the following:
- The time at work flies by.
- You’re motivated to perform at your best.
- You feel challenged and empowered by your work or future opportunities in the organization.
- You enjoy working with your co-workers so much that they become real-life friends.
- You can talk with your manager about anything.
- You’re inspired to continue learning new skills related to your role.
- You recommend potential recruits to apply at the company.
- You have plans of remaining with the company for the foreseeable future.
However, if you’re not engaged, you most likely share these thoughts:
- Your job is simply a paycheck.
- You feel underutilized in your position.
- You feel like you can’t be your true self at work.
- You feel disconnected from your team and others in the workplace.
- You struggle to come to work each day.
Half of the ownership of being engaged at work belongs to the employee, while the other half belongs to the organization. If an organization’s culture does not provide the necessary environment for an employee to become engaged, an employee who wishes to be engaged will not be able to become engaged. A quick way to determine whether or not a culture has the factors needed for you to engage is to review the organization’s values. Below are a few factors found in organizational cultures that contribute towards engagement.
Goal Clarity
It helps to understand the big picture. When looking for a job that you can engage with, make sure that you understand the organization’s goals, how your role contributes to the organization’s goals and what needs to be done to reach your individual goals.
You should always know where you stand in organizations that champion transparency surrounding goals.
It’s also helpful to be aware of goals for other departments in the organization and understand their contribution to organizational goals.
Growth Opportunities
As you consider whether an organization is the right fit for you, review your future career goals and see if they could be achieved with that employer. An employer focused on engaging team members hires individuals that show potential and are willing to be challenged in their role. Look for an organization that believes in you and provides tools, resources, training and career growth opportunities to stretch your current skills.
You should feel empowered to think outside the box and develop your role into your ideal career.
Connection with Others
It’s no longer a secret that having a friend at work is linked to how employees experience the workplace. Organizational cultures that make employee engagement a priority provide opportunities to connect with those they work with in both formal and informal settings. This could be as simple as encouraging cross-aisle collaboration or hosting internal celebrations. The important thing is that you have the opportunity to connect with employees in various department.
England Logistics promotes an even balance of career development and celebration. There are constantly opportunities to kick your skills up a notch through training courses and establish a Career Development Plan. Team members also don’t hold back while competing and celebrating together at company activities. The company is invested in developing a culture that invites all team members to become engaged.
There’s no need to dread going into work each day. Be sure to select an organization that has a strong company culture with resources that encourage engagement. After that, it is up to you to make the decision to become engaged and build your dream career.