DEVELOPING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

DEVELOPING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT 

Employee engagement is widely seen as being vital to improving business performance, effectiveness, and productivity. Researchers at Gallup identifi ed several variables that, when satisfi ed, form the foundation of strong feelings of engagement.

The idea 

Business researchers at Gallup identifi ed 12 questions measuring the effect of employee engagement, including such issues as retention, productivity, profi tability, customer engagement, and safety. These questions, known as the Q12, measure those factors that leaders, managers, and employees can infl uence. The questions are based on hundreds of interviews and focus groups, involving thousands of workers in many organizations, at all levels, across a broad range of industries and countries.

In practice  

To succeed, it is best to work with a business that possesses experience of administering and delivering Gallup’s Q12 and can advise on the key issues.

The questions below will help you focus on the challenge of increasing engagement. Consider them either for you or for your team, and rate your response to each question on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). 

• Is the team focused on the right things? Is everyone agreed on the priorities and strategy? 

• Do the business culture and processes help or hinder collaboration? What changes would improve the situation? 

• How well is performance monitored? Does the business merely rely on fi nancial indicators or are there other measures? 

• Where do tensions typically arise and where are they likely to arise in the future? 

• What is the best way to handle and reconcile tensions when they arise? 

• Where is the team succeeding and where do we need to improve (individually, and as a team)? 

• Are objectives and processes aligned, consistent, and pulling in the same direction? If not, what needs to change? 

• In the last seven days, have you received recognition or praise for doing good work? 

• At work, do your opinions seem to count? 

• In the last six months, has someone at work talked to you about your progress? 

• In the last year, have you had opportunities at work to learn and grow?