Workplace Engagement

Think of the person at work who is the most motivated and committed to their job. This coworker can help you understand the primary characteristics of workplace engagement. Workplace engagement is a positive emotional state. It’s characterized by energy, participation, and efficiency at work. 

Engagement is a buzzword that management gurus love. They promote it as a strategy to help businesses be more competitive, but that isn’t the only benefit. Workplace engagement also has advantages for the employees. Keep reading to learn more!

How to detect workers who display workplace engagement

Being engaged at work means being committed and emotionally involved with the company. That doesn’t mean that employees with workplace engagement don’t have a social life outside of the office. They do, however, take full advantage of their time at work. In other words, they focus on creating value for their company.

One characteristic of this type of employee is that they don’t complain. They don’t say bad things about the company. In fact, they do just the opposite. They show pride in their work and talk about it with their loved ones. People who are engaged at work express positive feelings about their employer. They do it because they genuinely feel good about their work and they enjoy their coworkers. They aren’t faking their positivity.

What’s more, when the company has new initiatives and new projects, these employees show interest in them and want to participate. They tend to involve themselves in things that require a lot of commitment. They don’t mind working extra hours if it helps them solve problems for the business. They even do it if it’s unpaid time.

Engagement isn’t the same as addiction

After reading the above characteristics, you might believe that these people are work addicts. That is not the case at all. People who are addicted to their jobs feel uncomfortable when they’re not at work. They don’t enjoy their free time. What’s more, they experience nervous tension, anxiety, and constant unease.

When people fully engage in their work, they have a completely different emotional state than addicts. They feel positive, motivated, and energized. They aren’t anxious. Their professional and personal lives are fulfilling and happy.

In addition, workplace engagement leads to better health, lower stress levels, and a higher self-esteem. Employees who are engaged at work believe that their effort, resources, and sacrifice will help them overcome challenges. They are responsible and independent problem-solvers.

What engaged employees offer to the company

Individuals who are engaged in their work carry out their duties in a very effective way. They always follow-through, and sometimes go above and beyond what is required. This helps ensure optimal performance at work and contributes to a healthy workplace. Their positive attitude is contagious and motivates the rest of the team. One person’s engagement can spread and create an environment of collective engagement.

How to foster engagement

As we just mentioned, usually the employees themselves foster engagement in the workplace. They inspire others to fulfill their responsibilities and internalize the values of their company. People around them feel motivated to take advantage of the opportunities to develop their vocation.

Nevertheless, the employer is responsible for laying out the company philosophy during the interview process. Future employees should be willing to talk about their budding commitment from the first interview. In other words, they should identify somehow with what the company is offering them.

The interviewer should also clearly explain the company’s values. That makes it easy for potential employees to become familiar with them. As you can see, the responsibility to plant the seeds of engagement during an interview is bidirectional. The candidate has to be motivated to be a part of the company and the recruiter has to show them the way. 

In general, there are three factors that facilitate workplace engagement: personal development, a good work environment, and a good salary. Companies whose employees feel satisfied in these three areas are more likely to perform better.

In order to achieve this level of commitment from employees, companies need to offer continuous training. That way, people won’t feel that they’re stuck. They will feel that they have real opportunities to advance their careers. It’s also important for employees to feel that they can openly discuss problems and challenges. In other words, bosses who care for their employees don’t just benefit their department, but the company as a whole.