The common characteristics of an engaged employee
Although engaged workers may differ greatly in terms of their personalities and work styles, you can still spot signs of engagement when evaluating team members. All of the following traits are common characteristics of an engaged employee.
1. They bring positivity to the workplace
An engaged employee is a worker you can count on to inject positivity into their team. Remember, a positive attitude doesn’t mean wearing a permanent smile. Positivity is more of a can-do spirit. When you give engaged employees assignments, they won’t tell you all the reasons why they won’t succeed. Even if the tasks are difficult, engaged workers will focus on the solutions to overcoming the challenges. They can see past obstacles and identify possibilities.
2. They tie their own success to the organization’s success
An engaged employee views the company’s successes as their own. When you hit a major milestone or successfully complete a project, they will be the first to celebrate. Engaged workers genuinely care about your business. They take pride in being part of the team and get satisfaction from contributing to your organization’s accomplishments.
3. They consistently go above and beyond
The term “bare minimum” isn’t in an engaged employee’s dictionary. They’re the ones that you can count on to stay late to finish a project and volunteer to take on extra work. Engaged workers frequently ask, “what can I do to help?” when challenges arise. They’re always on the lookout for opportunities to make a difference and consistently surprise you with work that exceeds your expectations.
4. They contribute to the team
An engaged employee wants their peers to succeed. They notice when their coworkers are struggling and offer assistance without management having to ask. They collaborate rather than compete. As a result, engaged workers are often liked and trusted by their peers.
5. They stand out as employees you can trust
An engaged employee is one you can trust. When they make mistakes, they’re eager to own up to them and take action to correct them. In addition, engaged employees are reliable. You can count on them to make good on their promises. Engaged teams don’t require micromanaging and constant supervision to get the job done.
6. They adapt well to change
An engaged employee is willing to go with the flow because they’re invested in the success of your organization. When changes are made in the workplace, they trust that they’re necessary. Instead of resisting and complaining, they do what they need to adapt. As a result, engaged workers are flexible. They’re the ones that you don’t dread discussing difficult topics with because you can count on their support.
7. They demonstrate a passion for ongoing learning and development
An engaged employee wants to do well and understands that growth and development are vital to their performance. Engaged workers ask insightful questions. They solicit feedback and respond well to constructive criticism. They’re eager and excited to learn more both informally on the job and through advanced training and education.
How to foster engaged teams
Overall low employee engagement isn’t a reflection of your team members. Rather, a lack of engaged workers suggests that your business hasn’t done enough to cultivate engagement. Fostering engagedteams requires ongoing effort. You can get started by following these tips.
Establish a positive relationship from the start with onboarding
Although it’s possible to get employees engaged after years of working for your company, helping new hires feel connected to the organization from the start is preferable. When new employees enter the workplace fully engaged, they can perform better in their roles. Plus, new engaged workers can reenergize your existing team. A comprehensive hands-on onboarding process that involves celebrating new arrivals, orienting them to their job roles and pairing them with mentors can help to ensure employee buy-in from day one.
Read more: Onboarding Guide
Set clear goals for performance
Performance goals are about more than just employee reviews. When employees have clear actionable goals to work toward, they know what’s expected of them and can better understand what they need to do to succeed. Establish how achievement of the goals contributes to the success of the team and the company as a whole. Doing so will prove that you see the value in what each employee does on a daily basis and help them feel more connected to their coworkers and your organization.
Read more: Employee Performance Goals: Examples for Managers to Use
Make their goals a priority, too
Find out where each employee would like to see themselves in one year, five years and 10 years, and commit to helping them achieve their goals. Then, make good on that commitment by giving employees opportunities to grow and advance. For example, if an entry-level employee expresses interest in a future IT position, you could encourage them to attend a seminar or seek a graduate degree. When employees feel as if you’re committed to their continued success, they’re more likely to feel engaged in their current positions.
Recognize employee achievements
Consistent employee recognition can go a long way toward establishing engaged teams. When an employee achieves a goal, make sure to acknowledge it. Employee recognition also involves celebrating birthdays, life events and anniversaries of employment. In addition, encourage team members to recognize one another to strengthen interpersonal connections.
Read more: 7 Examples of Employee Recognition Programs to Try
Communicate clearly and effectively
Employees can’t feel engaged with your message if they don’t fully understand it. Develop an effective organizational communications policy and ensure that all members of management adhere to it. Reevaluate communications periodically and make changes as needed.
Read more: Improving Organizational Communication: An Intro
FAQs about engaged workers
What is employee engagement?
Employee engagement refers to how emotionally attached employees are toward your organization and their team. High employee engagement generally means that a large percentage of your team has a high level of employee satisfaction and is fully committed to performance excellence and effective collaboration.
Why is employee engagement important?
A high level of employee engagement can contribute to the success of your business. When your team is engaged, workplace morale is usually high, and this translates to improved employee retention. Highly engaged teams are more likely to be efficient and productive.
What is an employee engagement program?
An employee engagement program is a set of initiatives undertaken by a company to help employees become more engaged. Often, HR professionals and management work together to develop the program. Management then takes ownership of the endeavor and implements it in the workplace.
