Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is when employees feel they have complete job satisfaction and job contribution. They are happy with what they are doing and feel that it makes a real contribution to the organizational goals. Blessing White publishes various analysis reports based on surveys they perform. In a recent release, Employee Engagement Report 2005, they analyze the depth in which employees are satisfied and committed to maximum job performance and the contributing factors.

The report conveys that a person’s relationship with their manager was third on the list as the most important factor influencing thoughts about leaving the organization. Their career and work came in first and second respectively. Of these though, management played key roles. Employees want to do what they do best, know the organizational strategy, and know their work plays an important role.

Across the board, employees wanted clear communication about their place in the organization and opportunities to use their talents. In order for this to happen, they need to know what talents they have and for management to recognize them. This requires an individual approach and not accomplished through a blanket solution. Coaching is an integral part of satisfying these needs and requires the skill and support of upper management. Only 30 percent of employees say that the coaching they received significantly increased performance and only 25 percent say coaching significantly improved job satisfaction.

Managers who are expected to develop their team members will be more aware of their employees’ talents, personal goals and career aspirations. As a result, they’ll be poised to make meaningful connections between the organization’s needs and employees’ interests.
Keeping managers accountable is one thing. Making sure they have the skills and talents to accomplish the tasks is another. Just as managers need to be responsible for the development of their teams, upper management must support them by assuring they have the training and coaching to do it.

To view the entire Blessing White report, go to: http://www.blessingwhite.com/library/Surveys/eesr2005.pdf
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1 Employee Engagement Report 2005, Blessing White, p8
2 Employee Engagement Report 2005, Blessing White, p29
3 Employee Engagement Report 2005, Blessing White, p30