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1. Start at the top.
“Walking the walk” is the single most effective employee engagement strategy any company can deploy. Employees must see the leadership demonstrating the characteristics and behaviors everyone else is being asked to display.
2. Be transparent.
Trusting employees with sensitive information gives them a sense of deeper investment in the company and helps to create a more cooperative team atmosphere, as opposed to an “us versus them” perception of the management-employee relationship.
3. Offer visibility, so that employees see them as approachable and available for guidance and assistance, rather than locked away in some protected area.
Publicly recognize employees for their contributions and achievements.
4. Say "thank you."
5. Be authentic.
Genuine relationships between employees and their supervisors and management inspires trust and builds comradery.
6. Be flexible.
Give employees the freedom to adjust their work schedules or location to better suit their needs.
7. Hire traits and behaviors.
Experience and education don’t guarantee performance. Even the most skilled candidate will fail if he or she has a poor attitude.
Emphasize hiring for and promoting the right behaviors and personality traits for your culture.
8. Engage from day one.
New employees start with enthusiasm and curiosity, so capitalize on that momentum by putting them right to work, helping them to get to know their co-workers or pairing them with a mentor. Acclimate them to the culture by making an excellent first impression, and they’ll fall in love with your company and their work.
9. Volunteer together. Doing good is good business.
Working together to help others demonstrates that the company isn’t just about making money, but about making a difference in the world.
10. Play together.
Having fun together not only breaks up the routine but also encourages creativity and collaboration.
Golden Rule: Treat people as you’d want to be treated. And, save your money on those expensive consultants, programs and other productized approaches. Compassion, mutual respect, kindness and flexibility don’t cost a thing.
