When your company is facing a crisis, be it COVID-19 or another concern, you might be facing challenges that can seem insurmountable.
Whether it’s the recent pandemic or a different crisis and period of change experienced by your company, engaged employees will help you withstand the harshest of conditions.
SERVICEBRAND GLOBAL believes that engaged employees are your biggest asset, yet the statistics make for a sobering read:
- A Gallup State of the Global Workforce report found 85% of employees are not engaged at work
- The UK lags behind other countries in employee engagement (45% vs 60% in the US, 56% in Australia and 54% in France)
- Disengaged employees cost companies 14.1 days of work a year.
- Highly engaged teams are 21% more productive.
So how can your organisation improve its employee engagement levels when you’re working through a crisis?
1. Transparency
No one likes working in the dark, and no more so than during these uncertain times. Be transparent with your internal communications with employees. You’ll keep the rumour mill quiet, particularly if you’re considering restructuring and rolling out a redundancy program.
Roll out consistent and clear updates on the company’s situation and the challenges being faced. Employees need to hear that difficult decisions are being made behind closed doors. Instil in your leaders the importance of continuing regular face-to-face or video 1-2-1s with their teams and weekly team meetings even if there’s nothing new to say.
A standard mistake companies in a crisis make, is not aligning their internal and external communications. Suppose one message is going out to employees and a contradictory set of messages to investors and the press. In our super-connected world, you’ll face an uphill battle when you try to get everyone on the same page. It is far better to be transparent and authentic.
SERVICEBRAND GLOBAL can help you tailor those problematic messages in a sensitive and employee-appropriate manner while aligning to your core values and vision.
2. Compassion
Send employees messages of support and encouragement. By fostering more meaningful relationships with your employees, you’re part of building more engaged and resilient teams. Acknowledge that your employees may be facing their own difficulties during the crisis.
If your teams are working remotely, you can still show your appreciation virtually.
We believe that by taking such an approach and continuing to recognise your employees’ efforts during the crisis, this faith will be repaid and your business will recover far sooner.
3. Example
Strong leadership during periods of crisis fosters greater employee engagement and support. Show your employees that you’re prepared to roll up your sleeves and pitch in.
Your organisation may be working through a crisis. Still, it’s essential to demonstrate that you understand and value the importance of well-being in the workplace and that you value your employees and the contribution they make to your company. This includes short, but regular stress breaks away from your desk.
Demonstrate that your employees are essential to you by listening to feedback through regular online surveys and ideas forums via Slack and email chains. And make sure you take action as a result of this feedback.
4. Trust
Since the world went into lockdown in March 2020, companies and their employees found themselves suddenly embracing new ways of working, including working from home. Interestingly, 74% of those working remotely reported being more productive as a result.
Instead of micro-managing staff remotely, SERVICEBRAND GLOBAL believes it’s essential that managers and executives trust their team to work effectively. We can work with you to build trust, and establish new and effective communication reporting systems so that your company continues to be as effective as ever.
5. Development
You may be battling a crisis, but time doesn’t stand still, and neither does your employees’ ambitions. Engage your teams by fostering a supportive culture where they can develop the skills they need to do their job. This is even more important if during the crisis you’re asking them to work differently.
For example:
- Offer training videos and webinars
- Identify any skills gaps your teams may have
- Ensure staff know who to contact if they have any technical problems
Your employees will turn to you during a crisis and expect you to lead and communicate. By improving employee engagement, you’re increasing your chances of survival and instilling confidence in your organisation.
Strong leadership and consistent and transparent communication will help you have engaged teams during the bad times and the good.
Talk to SERVICEBRAND GLOBAL about how to make lasting improvements to your employee engagement.