1. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Why Employee Engagement is Important for Your Organization
Presented by
Columbus Area Labor-Management Committee

2. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Your Presenters: Dr. Jim Cowles Executive Director Meredith Porterfield Program Manager Columbus Area Labor-Management Committee

3. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT What Is It? According to Wikipedia:
An "engaged employee" is one who is
fully involved in, and enthusiastic about
their work, and thus will act in a way
that furthers their organization's
interests.

4. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Organizations today face tremendous challenges.
Why Is Employee Engagement Important?
Organizations today face tremendous challenges.
Customer demands
Rapid change
Doing things the same way isn’t working any more.
Need more and new ideas to face the competition.

5. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Helps with job retention
Why Is Employee Engagement Important?
Helps with job retention
Can encourage more flexible environments
Better use of limited resources.

6. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Basic Principles:
The person who does a job usually knows the most about that job.
Most people want to be informed and involved.
Everyone deserves a voice in determining their own future.
Healthy organizations are in everybody’s interest.

7. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT People drive change. People make the difference.
Unless people are involved and
committed to making fundamental
change, any employee engagement process will not work.

8. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Advantages:
Greater productivity & efficient use of time.
Better workplace communication.
Improved relationships and higher trust levels between employees and management.

9. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Advantages:
Can be effective in unionized or non-unionized organizations.
Opportunity for REAL problem-solving.

10. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT How do you achieve it?
Develop a culture where employees feel valued and can contribute their ideas freely.

11. Employee Engagement How do you achieve it?
Make the commitment to the process
Select a team or teams
Provide training
Identify a problem
Use good problem solving processes
Work to solve the problem, not affix blame

12. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
How do you achieve it?
Need to demonstrate commitment through actions, not just words
Have an open mind and be willing to take some risks
Actively listen to employee ideas and provide feedback

13. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
How do you achieve it?
May have to go the “extra mile” to show the importance of doing this, develop trust
Start with a small project or something most would agree is important.
Sometimes better to have outside facilitator to help

14. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Not easy
Be aware – this process:
Not easy
Be patient. It takes time and determination – not a quick fix
Not a cookie-cutter approach

15. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Be aware – this process:
Must be consistent – all the time, not stop & start
No finger pointing

16. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Be aware – this process:
There must be mutual respect and empathy, treat each other as equals
Must be honest, share information

17. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT A Word About Professional Outside Assistance:
Can make a new process easier
Confronting issues can be difficult when everyone has a stake in them
Can help keep the process moving
Professionals bring experiences from other organizations

18. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT A Word About Professional Outside Assistance:
Help build trust
Can help build a more cohesive team
Professionals have tools and techniques to help groups as needed
Can be more cost efficient

19. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
For more information or assistance with your employee engagement process, contact: Columbus Area Labor-Management Committee