With so many pressures and distractions around, employers these days are having a hard time keeping employees engaged. They resort to various initiatives, such as learning lunches, team-building activities, sports events, and training programs.
In Singapore, fresh graduates and full-time employees have the freedom to apply for a work-study program, where they receive practical training at their workplace. Through the program, employees can continue upskilling themselves while setting a clear pathway for their careers.
As more workplace teams continue working remotely, companies are at a higher risk of losing the sense of belonging in the organization because of the lack of contact and social interaction. With that in mind, we’ll discuss ways to intentionally increase the sense of belonging and connectedness in your workforce.
Establish team goals
Bringing employees together begins when you give them a common purpose. Any team endeavor should start with “why.” The “why” serves as the driving factor for teams to think and act together.
It’s important to survey the people first before setting team goals. Know their values and how they align with the organization. Once you set the goals, clear and regular communication is necessary to further enhance the culture’s values. They have to live with them and ensure their work has meaning, purpose, and recognition.
When employees function as a team and work to achieve the company’s goal, they tend to support and build one another. Successful collaboration happens if you establish team goals and inspire everyone to build connections. The goals should drive individuals to function as a team and help each other flourish.
Recognize achievements
Managers and team leaders should recognize both team and individual achievements, whether big or small. Employers should publicize team wins so that everyone is up to date about company successes.
The top management should also acknowledge how each success contributes to the overall company mission and objectives. Recognition can be a huge driving factor, which helps in promoting emotional connection across the workplace, teams, and the organization.
Ask for input
Inclusiveness begins if the workplace welcomes both team and individual contributions. Managers encourage employees to lend their skills and pitch ideas while giving credit to their input. In turn, employees don’t feel afraid or hesitant to extend their help if they’re a part of the project.
A sense of belonging thrives in the workplace if employees feel their ideas and opinions matter and can make an actual difference. As a result, everyone feels they’re a part of the company’s success. During meetings, managers invite everyone to speak and communicate their opinions. Asking for input and acting upon it gives the person a sense of investment and ownership of the organization’s performance. It makes them feel they belong, which drives them to stay with the company.
Promote work camaraderie
We think of the office as a place where everything needs to get done so much so that we spend a lot of time in our workplace. While this can’t be avoided, employers should make sure everyone enjoys their time as much as they can.
Ever heard the phrase, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? This saying also rings through in the work setting. Employers should strike a balance between working and habit a bit of fun. Do this by encouraging camaraderie through office events, such as birthday celebrations, work anniversaries, team lunches, employer-subsidized activities, and volunteering programs. Creating a favorable workplace culture provides enormous returns, so it’s worth investing time and resources in getting people involved.
Celebrate work successes
Workplace successes come in different forms, such as scoring new clients, hitting sales targets, and reaching project goals. Whether group or individual achievements, these victories can foster powerful bonds and relationships within teams and departments. It allows employees to reflect on the value of teamwork and appreciate their achievements together. So devote time to gather everyone together to recognize collective success.
Belonging offers a lot of benefits to your business. It’s neither expensive nor hard to achieve. You just need to find the right ways to motivate people to do better. By nurturing a sense of belonging across the organization, people are bound to do great things. As employees progress, you should also ensure no one gets left behind in the work culture. This is the key to achieving overall company success.
In summary, the most effective way to motivate people effectively is to bring a sense of meaning and connection to their work. That is, you have to implement relevant and actionable strategies related to motivators, such as belonging, autonomy, praise, competition, and recognition. By creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong, it’s easy to establish a more resilient, engaged, and productive workforce.