Creating an ideal working environment takes time and effort. But the extra legwork will pay dividends in the long term—especially when employees start going that extra mile for their organization.
By addressing the four factors that determine engagement and making sure employees believe in the company mission and strategy, leaders can get the most out of their people.
Are you wondering how to get more out of your employees? If so, you're not alone. Many businesses are searching for ways to inspire discretionary effort - the extra effort employees give because they want to. This kind of effort can make a huge difference in your business results, so it's important to know how to motivate your employees to give it.
One way to think about employee effort is in terms of "want to" and "have to." Discretionary effort is the extra effort employees give because they want to, not because they have to. In order to inspire this kind of effort, you need to understand the four forces that drive employee engagement: job fit, manager fit, team fit, and culture fit.
1. Job fit
Does the employee find their work fulfilling? Are they well-suited to the role, both behaviorally and cognitively? Does their job description accurately reflect the day-to-day duties?
2. Manager fit
Does the employee feel heard by their manager? Does the manager understand the employee's behavioral makeup and tailor their leadership and positive reinforcement accordingly?
3. Team fit
Does the employee feel safe to share ideas and voice unpopular opinions? Do they have a positive impact on team dynamics?
4. Culture fit
Does the employee feel emotionally connected to the company culture? Do they feel valued by the organization?
The more of these factors that are met, the more motivated the employee will be. Ensuring job fit, manager fit, team fit, and culture fit can mean the difference between mediocre effort and discretionary effort.
To improve engagement and inspire discretionary effort, you need to measure it first. Conduct an employee experience survey that is designed to measure emotional investment in the organization as well as engagement with one's specific job. When you work to improve engagement in your company, you'll find your employees are more motivated - and willing to put in more effort than is required.
Communication is also critical to success.
The C-Suite plays a critical role in driving engagement and discretionary effort by ensuring that the organization's mission and strategy is understood across the entire organization, not just at the top. This kind of clarity and transparency removes potential roadblocks for employees and inspires them to put in extra effort.
Creating an ideal working environment takes time and effort, but the extra legwork will pay dividends in the long term - especially when employees start going that extra mile for their organization. By addressing the four factors that determine engagement and making sure employees believe in the company mission and strategy, leaders can get the most out of their people.
Ready to improve employee engagement and get more discretionary effort from your workforce?
Contact Straightline Consulting Group today. As certified talent optimization consultants with decades of practical business experience, we can help you create an ideal working environment by addressing the four factors that determine engagement and ensuring employees believe in your company's mission and strategy. Contact us now to learn more about our employee experience survey and other tools we offer to help you improve engagement and increase productivity.
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