Employee engagement is a hot topic in most organizations. How do you keep employees engaged while maintaining adequate productivity? What does it mean when employees are disengaged? How do managers regain employee’s interest, not only in their job, but the company as well? When it comes to a productive work environment, employee engagement is key.

Exactly what is “employee engagement?” Experts have a wide range of answers, however, simply put; employee engagement is the act of a company employee being happy and fully involved in their work. Their attitude and behavior is engaged in such a manner which increases productivity. In fact, there is a direct correlation between employee engagement and important factors such as customer service and the company bottom line. The question then becomes how to effectively engage employees. Here are simple actions to perform to engage and keep employees engaged.

Ignore rumors – In many organizations, the rumor mill is the life blood of the company. Unfortunately, many rumors are often false allegations against an employee specifically designed to create an atmosphere of low morale and distrust. Employee involvement in the rumor mill is bad enough. Managers engaging in the rumor mill can be devastating. Managers should think twice before acting on a “tip” generated by the office rumor mill. If it’s a situation which may potentially have catastrophic ramifications such as drinking or alcoholism, keep an eye on the situation. For example, what one will call an alcoholic can be one night of a few beers. Trust and responsibility are important to keeping employees engaged.

Don’t act as if the employee is “lucky” enough to have a job. The economy is tight. The job market is currently an “employer’s market” when it comes down to picking and choosing candidates for a job. This does not mean current employees should be treated with disrespect. Respect is another important factor while engaging employees.

Recognize significant accomplishments. Employees like to be valued for their contributions to the organization. If a member of the staff comes up with an idea that saves even 30 minutes worth of work, that employee should be recognized for their contribution. A valued employee is an engaged employee.

Finally, respond to questions promptly. No one likes to feel as if their questions have fallen into the black hole of communication. If you get annoyed every time your employee asks a question, you may be looking at self-burnout. What you may not feel as important may be of vital importance to the employee asking the question. Respond to e-mails and voicemails promptly. If you have an employee who asks questions every 5 minutes, additional attention may be needed to get to the root of the problem. Engagement requires communication.

While there is definitely more to the concept of employee engagement, performing these simple actions can be the start of fostering employee engagement throughout the organization.

Looking for addtional books on employee engagement?

Carrots and Sticks Don't Work: Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles of RESPECT

365 Ways to Motivate and Reward Your Employees Every Day: With Little or No Money