One Simple Way to Improve Employee Engagement in 60 Minutes

Who would have thought that changing just one hour of the employee orientation program could have a significant effect on overall employee engagement?

And yet, that is just what recent research published in the March 2013 Administrative Science Quarterly shows.

It seems, according to employee engagement training studies, that a focus on employee individuality rather than on company culture can have a measurable impact on employee satisfaction. Researchers set up two groups: one where the onboarding process included an hour in which individual strengths were highlighted and another where the company culture was touted.

There were two very interesting results:

1. Turnover was almost 30% higher for the group where organizational identity was emphasized
2. Over the following months, their customer satisfaction ratings were less that the individual identity group.

If you are looking to increase the productivity and happiness rating of new employees, try spending the first hour as you welcome them aboard in appreciating what they as individuals bring to the company. Lessen the company spiel and welcome the diverse perspectives and positive energy that new blood can contribute. It will pay off.

  

      The same probably goes for one-on-one coaching and performance management sessions.  Give it a try.