An engaged Software Company Employee is a valuable asset . Engaged IT workers are motivated workers. Motivated workers are more productive. Higher productivity translates to higher profits. For instance: When an engaged employee gets up in the morning excited about going to work, they are not just good with time management but they also feel grateful for the appreciation and respect their employers and co-workers have for them. They give their 100%. Eventually, they choose to stay.
Engaging employees, however, can be a huge challenge in the current job market where volatility is high. The reason to change a job doesn’t have to be a compelling one in this age and time, where opportunities are plenty. Feeling uninspired? Get a new job. Bored? Get a new job. Stuck in a meaningless job? Get a new job. Underpaid? Get a new job. Toxic boss? Get a new job. It is that easy!
Employee engagement is about being included fully as a member of the team, focused on clear goals, trusted and empowered, receiving regular and constructive feedback, supported in developing new skills, thanked and recognized for achievement.
As part of this, TechDoQuest has identified 10 Cs of employee engagement – Connect, Career, Clarity, Convey, Congratulate, Contribute, Control, Collaborate, Credibility and Confidence.
Top 10 Strategies that Every Software Company Should Have:
1. Practice open-door policy:
An open-door policy means, literally, that every manager's door is open to every Software Development Company Employee. The purpose of this policy is to encourage transparent communication, feedback, and discussion about any matter of importance to an employee while they express themselves, without any hesitation. Many top-level executives have changed their techniques and have introduced a free culture within the organization.
2. Build Strong Connect:
Having strong relationships with leaders creates a sense of mentorship and strong employee engagement. Software Employees need to feel valued in all areas of the business and amidst leaders, and managers . When employees feel a deep, strong connection, they are more likely to expend extra energy for one another, both at work and away from it. Efforts , attention to quality and morale go up and generally, so do profits.
3. Recognize Good Performance:
Rewarding top performers for their achievements with a cash prize, free day off, a gift card to their favorite lunch spot or a massage gift certificate or whatever makes sense for your team. Regularly, showing employees that you recognize and appreciate their efforts is a simple gesture that goes a long way.
4. Give employees a voice:
Running a survey once a year is not the most amazing thing. It’s better to have a parallel channel where employees can raise their concerns, knowing it won’t have an adverse effect. For this, consider using internal chat channels or a similar platform where IT Company Employees can communicate on a one-to-one basis and on a day-to-day basis with their managers or peers.
5. Know Your Employees
Many organizations fail to understand that a Software Organization is built by its people. The easiest way is to create an employee engagement survey, gathering data to know what’s really happening. Collect data, analyze it and take necessary actions. It's fast, easy, anonymous, and can be taken anywhere, anytime and becomes a record also.
6. Revamp Office Space :
The office environment plays a large part in employee’s engagement. Isolated employees don't quite allow for communication or collaboration. Rework your floor plan in a way that encourages more cross-communication between employees. By forming strong relationships with their peers, they'll build a sense of fellowship and belonging that’s vital to favor an engaged workforce.
7. Clarify Responsibilities :
If you don’t clearly delegate responsibilities to the right individuals and keep track of their progress, you won’t get anywhere in the way of improving IT Software Employee engagement. It is better to involve the important people from the beginning. This should include HR representatives, middle managers, executives and long-term employeesand know who’s responsible for what before you get started. Forming an employee engagement committee composed of the same key players will increase the employees engagement level.
8. Flexible workspace:
Be it the 9-to-5 work schedule or the inability to explore their creativity or even effectively use their skills, an inflexible work environment can lead to reduced engagement levels. Providing a flexible work environment fills the employees with a sense of empowerment and makes them more responsible
9. Transparent communication :
Top Software Company Employees today prefer to work for organizations where honest and transparent communication forms an integral part of the work culture.
10. Space for Growth :
Software Employees are most worried about their professional growth and success. Providing them with such development opportunities can go a long way in boosting engagement. Assigning them projects where their skills can be utilized & developed and creating appropriate training programs are just a few steps that an organization can take to seek the attention of the employees.
While these strategies can drive up the employee engagement significantly, one cannot expect overnight results. Hence, organizations need to adapt a patient approach and constantly make improvements based on the employee pulse and global changes.
(Author: Abirami Vellayappan is a curious cat and a social media writer at TechDoQuest.)