| | JUNE 20199CIOReviewEnsuring employees are engaged will increase company success but this is not as simple as offering a great compensation package and top-notch benefits. Companies must focus on instilling loyalty from employees and to do so they must understand employee needs. Over the years employee needs have been driven by the generational views of Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, and now Millennials. In 2015, Millennials surpassed Generation Xers in the workforce and the number continues to grow as our Baby Boomers retire. Failure to recognize Millennials as a force to be reckoned with will surely lead to the demise of even the most successful of organizations.What does this really mean? Millennials (born between early 1980s and late 1990s) are a tough bunch and very technology savvy! Research tells us that while they are looking for meaningful work and have high expectations of their employers, they are the first generation to readily accept leadership from the older generation. Also, you might be surprised to learn that they are looking for stability and thrive in collaborative work environments. What company wouldn't want to embrace the opportunities Millennials offer? By having a better understanding of what drives our workforce, it becomes more apparent that organizations need to ensure they have strong leaders in the driver's seat. Only then can real engagement goals be reached. It is a well-known fact that employees, "quite their bosses." Today's companies need leaders, not managers! Leadership is more than the old task-based process of assigning work to subordinates, performing annual performance reviews, and addressing performance issues. Leaders must understand their employees on a human level and constantly assess how their team is holding up. They should be molding jobs to closely align with employee strengths. Furthermore, employees need their leaders to be empathetic and understand them well enough to build solid relationships. Employers must support the success of their leadership team by implementing a strong company mission, vision, organizational values, and tools that drive team engagement. For example, annual performance reviews on their own lack positive business results in today's workforce. It is important to focus on creating a performance com mu nication loop that allows for immediate communication, that can be tracked and later incorporated into an annual performance review. Incorporating real-time communication through mobile applications is a great way to provide feedback, both positive and constructive, so that employees know where they stand. Employee survey applications can also be a helpful tool, but remember if you are going to survey your employees, be prepared to follow up and make changes based on feedback. Doing nothing will only increase employee dissatisfaction. Other ideas companies may explore to improve engagement are flex-time, job-sharing, and remote work environments. Ultimately, strong leadership from the CEO down is the key to instilling a sense of engagement and overall success of a business. Regardless of what perks and tools organizations put into place to increase employee engagement, having a sound mission and vision that drive company culture is paramount. If leaders take the time to listen, provide meaningful work, clear direction, and map out clear opportunities for advancement; employee engagement will be the result and become the fabric of the organization. Wendy R. WhiteEnsuring employees are engaged will increase company success but this is not as simple as offering a great compensation package and top-notch benefits
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