4 overlooked things that really drive greater employee engagement

Our in-house People Science team joined forces with our customers and leading HR experts to dive into the nuts and bolts of employee engagement. One hot topic we wanted to put to bed using the latest HR thinking and behavioural science. Just exactly what drives employee engagement?

As part of the guide, we discuss ten elements that makeup engagement and even built a behavioural model of employee engagement to help you with implementation. Today we're shining a light on four of the often overlooked elements. Those are:

1. Socialisation
2. Communication
3. Purpose
4. Autonomy

And remember to download your free copy of the guide at the end of this article.

The importance of employee engagement

We like to make things simple. So here’s how we define employee engagement:

The level of emotional sentiment and commitment an employee has to their work, their peers, and the company’s goals and purpose.

This gives us measurable variables (affection and commitment) and factors with which to measure against (our work, our employers, their goals/purpose, and our colleagues). Simple really!

Engaged staff are more productive, earning more than twice as much revenue as those who are actively disengaged. They're also more attentive and observant, meaning they're more likely to spot mistakes before they pass the point of no return. Highly engaged employees are also more likely to buy into new policies and tools, as well as advocate for your business and its goals. And they're even more innovative!

Now for those often overlooked things that really boost high employee engagement.

1. Socialisation builds bonds which drives employee engagement

Being engaged is about more than putting your nose to the grindstone. In terms of what drives employee engagement, our colleagues provide us with a vital support network. And, in fact, it's one that we see more than any other in our lives. In or out of work, humans are social by nature. Research shows that having a variety of social relationships reduces stress and related health issues, like heart problems.

A good co-worker is someone you can turn to, whether it's for a second opinion on your project, or just a good chat over lunch.

From an engagement point of view, importantly research has shown that having even a single "work friend" makes it much more likely that not only will an employee stay in role longer, they will be more motivated to work at a higher level of quality and productivity & or in other words, they will be engaged more.

2. Communication is key to driving employee engagement success

So, what drives employee engagement more than good communication. The success of your business and the quality of your workplace culture are influenced in countless ways by how well people interact and share information.

Research from Arthur J. Gallagher shows that 60% of brands don't have a long-term internal communication strategy. And to make matters worse, 12% of those that do don't measure its effectiveness. But without solid communication strategy, your people will be slow to react. Employees may be unsure about their responsibilities, and there will be a high risk of misinterpretation.

Good communication is also about feedback. Feedback helps us learn, grow and better understand the places in which we work and the work that we do. Feedback is essential for helping all employees, from the new intern to the CEO superstar, churn out their best work, consistently. Frequent feedback fixes many of the ills with processes such as performance reviews and 1:1 meetings.  

And, in terms of employee sentiment, a snapshot of one point in the year is only so useful. If you want to guide employee development while turning their sentiments into actionable insight, the best way forward is to check in with staff on a regular basis, as it allows you to keep track of things in real-time.

3. Autonomy leads to motivation which boosts engagement

While the two aren't synonymous, job satisfaction is arguably a big part of what drives employee engagement. Generally, what we need to be satisfied by our jobs is having a degree of control over how we work, as well as pride in the contributions we've made.

There's extensive research exploring autonomy as a contributor to employee engagement. One recent example is a 2021 study of 267 employees. The study found that autonomy increases engagement because of more challenging work or decision-making.

Autonomy lets employees flex their creative muscles, meaning that allowing for it is one of the best ways to encourage discretionary effort in your workplace. Without autonomy, employees lose valuable time waiting for you to give them the go-ahead. That sort of micromanagement is often a sign of an inept or unconfident boss.

4. Link individual purpose to business values

Purpose can be a little harder to nail down. It's a matter of impact, as well as the value that others ascribe to your work. So, for example, a janitor might feel they lack purpose. The work of cleaning things only for them to get dirty again is pretty Sisyphean. And it's easy for other people to overlook. But you'd be hard-pressed to claim that regular cleaning isn't an essential role in places like hospitals, restaurants, etc. So the same job but in a different context can drive higher employee engagement.

The best way for managers to imbue their staff with a sense of purpose is to help them connect their work to the goals of the business. Using a formal goal tracking system, like Objectives and Key Results, can make this so much easier. This gives employees a more personal stake in the success of the business.

For example, you could highlight how improving customer experience in your restaurant has pushed you higher up the list of local eateries. Or you could show how a recent marketing campaign has bolstered your virtual reach, through clicks, likes and other digital impressions.

But there's so much more to employee engagement

Socialisation. Communication. Autonomy and Purpose: Those factors of employee engagement can make all the difference in the world. But, if you think those are all you've got to worry about, think again...

Download our latest guide: Employee Engagement in a Remote Work World for insights, tips and practical advice for driving higher employee engagement.