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Rules of Engagement--Rule #1: Make it Fun!
A few sobering facts about engagement:
Engagement and retention are serious business--especially now that competition for top talent is heating up again. How can you keep employees engaged and working for you?
Start having more fun--seriously!
Having fun at work has been shown to improve employee retention, focus, productivity, and job satisfaction. So if you want to turn discontented employees around, use these ideas for improving the "fun" value of your company:
"Fun" and "business" may seem like two separate pursuits, but they don't have to be. By encouraging employees to have fun, managers are also encouraging them to build relationships, be more productive, foster communication, and develop a sense of belonging within their work and the organization.
When choosing a venue, remember that it should be easy for your employees to access, clean, friendly, and welcoming. Don't make happy hours mandatory; instead, set a regular date and stick to it, even if employees are skeptical at first. The more "happy hour" get-togethers take place, the less formal they become, giving employees a chance to relax and get to know one another outside their usual business day.
When deciding which activities to undertake, more ideas are often better--not all activities appeal equally to all people, and family and other obligations will affect when and how employees can attend. Encourage employees to show up when they can, and emphasize that their contribution makes a difference.
To learn more about effective gamification, look for examples of companies that have achieved business goals by implementing gamification in the process.
Employees are more likely to enjoy working together, and to do so more effectively, knowing they'll get frank feedback and the support they need when an idea falls through or a deadline gets close. They'll also know that ideas for employee get-togethers or volunteer events will be well received, encouraging them to generate plans of their own--and to take this task off the hands of management.