Keeping the finger on the pulse of your workforce
Just imagine…. having a team in your business, all who are fully involved in, and enthusiastic about their work; caring about the future of the business and willing to invest the discretionary effort exceeding duties call to see that the operation succeeds.”
The above is Seitjs definition of Employee Engagement. Engagement is different from happiness. Someone might be happy at work, but it does not necessarily mean they are working hard, productively ensuring the future success of your organisation. According to Gallup, an international authority on Employee Engagement, the bulk of employees worldwide — 63% — are “not engaged,” meaning they lack motivation and are less likely to invest discretionary effort in organizational goals or outcomes; 24% are “actively disengaged,” indicating they are unhappy and unproductive at work and liable to spread negativity to co-workers. Only 10% of employees in South Africa are fully engaged. A staggering 57% are not engaged and 33% are actively disengaged, meaning they just could not care.
The demands in the world of work are not contributing to making this better. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate; competitiveness is the name of the game; in a world where knowledge doubles every year, skills have a half-life of 2.5 to 5 years; and we have a whole new generation of millennials challenging the conventional way of doing. The gap amongst technology, business practice and people development create a vacuum in which organisations and their people get lost!
Is every person in your business ready to deal with these uncertainties? Or has your workforce adapted but your organization got stuck in the industrial age practices?
To effectively sustain an optimal labor force, organisations must strive for optimal engagement. This can only be achieved through being concerned both about productivity and about people. How employees’ needs are met has a direct bearing on their performance. Focusing on productivity alone may lead to a reduction in worker output. A concern for worker needs means attending to their well-being, as individuals and as employees. Courteous and consistent treatment, job security, fair pay, safe working conditions, stimulation, development are important to employees. Even more important is a sincere belief in your business’s vision, leadership and brand. When these needs are ignored, worker dissatisfaction may impede productivity. The connection between employee engagement and business profitability is direct and obvious.
But how do we know the level of engagement of our employees? By asking them!
A big aspect of the leadership today is about dealing with the human element. It’s managing the interactions and relationships that impact and form the workplace. It requires being proactive about issues; scanning and observing employment environment so as to keep a vigilant gaze on the general well-being of your most valuable asset, your employees!
THE PERITUM AGRI INSTITUTE can help to scan, assess and formulate solutions to ensure a healthy workforce! Allow us to work with you in adapting to and encouraging positive changes in all spheres of business. Call us now for a range of affordable, modern survey tools and intervention that updates results as it measures! Keep your finger on your heartbeat of your workforce today!
