Hit the ground running: Boosting engagement in the new year

After the holidays, it’s normal to experience a slump in productivity from employees. Effective leaders will get around the post-holiday blues through prioritising engagement.

Positive engagement breeds efficiency. Employees who are attentive and empowered will produce better results. Part of getting this right is considering how staff want to be treated.

According to Mercer, “employees no longer want to work for a company; they want to work with one. They’re looking for a more human approach to work – a partnership where their values are acknowledged and they can be their authentic selves.”

This is why keeping workers feeling valued and respected is crucial. Policy should reflect this, and those who understand this as we enter 2024 can help ensure their workforce remains happy and engaged.

This is more important than ever at the moment, as the same Mercer report revealed that Australia’s engagement scores are below the global average. Globally, an average of 77 per cent of the workforce is engaged, while Australia sits at 76 per cent.

This is impacting retention rates, as just 64 per cent of workers said they would choose to stay with their company if offered the same benefits and pay elsewhere, down from 70 per cent in 2019.

Meanwhile, 29 per cent of workers said they weren’t satisfied at their job, compared to a global average of 25 per cent. The effect on retention is significant, with voluntary turnover hitting 10.2 per cent in the first half of last year.

One area that can assist in boosting retention and engagement is developing employee-manager relationships. Mercer saw “a 10-percentage point drop in positive responses to ‘my immediate manager values diverse ideas and perspectives’ and an eight-point drop in ‘my immediate manager is accessible to me when needed.’”

Addressing these issues should be top of mind for leaders, as employees who do not have a connection with their manager risk losing productivity.

Personal development opportunities can be another great way to help boost engagement. Mercer revealed that career development opportunities are a top way to help get the most out of employees. Not only will it keep them happy, but workplaces can also bolster their skill sets through training and education.

Despite an apparent lack in engagement in Australia compared to global counterparts, Mercer found that employees across the country are still motivated. In fact, 84 per cent said they were motivated to go above and beyond expectations, highlighting a clear desire to perform.

Effective managers will leverage this ambition and help employees grow into the performers they want to be.