You might assume that calling your employees a team and giving them tasks that interest them is enough to make them feel connected to their work and workplace. However, that’s not always true. Employee disconnect is a genuine problem that can be caused by anything from poor workspaces to hypocrisy, communication breakdowns, and management issues.
Fail to catch it before it gets out of hand, and disengagement can take a lot of time and effort to correct. If you’re starting to feel the effects of it in your workplace, try reversing it with the following strategies:
Change How You Work
Whether you work remotely, in a fully furnished serviced office space, or in a cubicle-laden high rise, changing how you work might be one of the most effective ways to foster new connections in your place of business.
Most employees appreciate the flexibility to work in a space that best reflects their mood, workload, and preferences. So giving them plenty of options might produce the desired results. For example, you could design your office to include private, collaborative, and shared spaces. You might also allow remote employees to meet up at a serviced office when they need to collaborate.
Recognize Shining Stars
Most companies have an intranet for sharing important work news and documents. Consider using this platform to publicly thank employees for their efforts on specific projects and tasks. Not only can you enhance company culture, but you can also make your team feel wanted, needed, and appreciated for their hard work.
Prioritize Communication
A lack of communication might not seem like a big deal, but it contributes to discontent and a lack of engagement. More than 40% of employees in a recent study said poor communication impacted their trust in leadership, and 38% said it affected their trust in their team. Many also said they believed poor communication affected their productivity.
Make communication your priority with in-office and remote employees, and you might solve your disengagement problem. Create an open-door policy and let all employees know they can speak to their managers about anything bothering them.
Give Them the Tools They Need
Not having the necessary equipment to do your job is frustrating, especially when it impacts your mood and productivity. If your team has made it clear they need something to do their job, prioritize getting it for them. When your employees can rely on you to make their job easier, they feel valued, often resulting in lucrative productivity gains and higher staff retention rates.
Utilize Technology
Sometimes, disconnect in the workplace can come down to not having the most appropriate technology for employees to communicate with each other. Resource-sharing platforms, apps, and programs that prioritize teamwork and seamless connectivity can solve this problem.
If employees can work together on projects and access everything they need in one centralized digital space, they might not feel as isolated or frustrated. They may even start to surprise you with productivity gains.
Develop Peer Mentorship Programs
Many people start working with a particular company when they learn it offers growth opportunities. Employees aspire to learn new skills, obtain further qualifications, and work their way up the ranks. Develop peer mentorship programs to help this happen. When your employees can transfer new skills to each other, you benefit from a more knowledgeable team, and they enjoy being able to reach their full potential.
Helping your team feel more connected to their work doesn’t have to be a significant undertaking. Prioritize communication, utilize technology, and offer flexibility in how your employees work. You can then benefit from a more connected, engaged, and happier workforce.
