Have you heard the buzz about employee engagement? It seems to be everywhere. It’s such a hot topic because study after study shows that engaged employees are more likely to stay with the team, they are more innovative, and they go the extra mile.
Bottom line – “engagement” is good for the bottom line.
But engagement is not just good for business, it is actually a very healthy way to work. Don’t you want to be excited about what you do and looking forward to going to work? Engaged teams are made up of happy people because their work provides them with positive emotional experiences and connections with others.
So, how do you know if your team is truly engaged? Ask yourself (or better yet, your team) these 6 questions:
1. Do you have a meaningful conversation with each team member at least once a week?
According to a Gallup poll, the more conversations managers have with their employees, the more engaged their employees become. Associates need to be heard, to be coached, and to be connected with their manager.
2. Does each team member have an opportunity to contribute to the team in a meaningful way?
People fundamentally need to feel like they matter, like they are significant. If team members don’t feel like they are contributing or that their contributions are not appreciated and accepted it will be nearly impossible for them to engage.
3. Are your team members learning and growing?
Team members need to be appropriately challenged in order to develop skills and also because it keeps things interesting. Find out what skills your team members would like to develop and look for opportunities to support them.
4. Do you feel the energy when the team is working together?
When a team is engaged the energy is palpable. At your next team member, check the pulse of the room. Are people leaning in, animated, focused on the conversation – or are they all checking their emails and watching the clock? Think about how you can change your meetings to increase the energy and engagement.
5. Do you hear team members express positive attitudes toward about their work, teams, and the organization as a whole?
When we are truly engaged we are happy and we tend to share that with others. Fortunately, this positive expression can be contagious.
6. Do you notice that team members willingly give discretionary effort?
When associates are excited about what they do, they voluntarily do more than is asked and expected. Engaged teams go the extra mile willingly. They are more proactive and they help others without being asked.
If you said “yes” to every question, you likely have a highly engaged team – Congratulations! Please share your best practices in the comments section below so we can learn from you!
If you said “no” or “sometimes” to any of these questions, you can easily begin to work towards increasing engagement on your team. I recommend you talk about these questions with your team and collaborate on how to increase engagement. Consider an off-site meeting or retreat to explore and plan how to increase engagement among your team. It’s also important to have individual conversations with each team member, because everyone is unique and will need different things to be fully engaged.
Team building is a journey, that begins with desire and awareness. Hopefully this quiz provides some insights for you as you build a better team.
Want to assess your team and find out how engaged they really are? Try this proven, online Team Coaching Assessment. Better Teams helps leaders build high-performing and happy teams.
About the Author: Leigh Ann Rodgers, Founder of Better Teams and Forward, is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator with 20 years of experience in the human development field. Leigh Ann is a skilled meeting facilitator, trainer, and coach working across the globe to help leaders cultivate teams that are happy and high-performing.
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