Workplace Culture Innovation

How Creating a Sense of Purpose Helps Develop Employee Engagement

We have all heard the horror stories about terrible customer service, or employees doing little more than what is directly expected of them, as well as the impacts that these things can have on an organization overall. When it comes right down to it, many of these problems stem from employee engagement, or a lack thereof. When it comes to building and encouraging employee engagement, one of the biggest things that you can do as a manager is to create a sense of purpose.

We all know the importance of keeping an employee engaged within the workplace – ensuring they are challenged and feel appreciated – but sometimes the significance of maintaining that strong sense of purpose can become lost in the shuffle of the everyday.

For an employee to really gain that sense of purpose, he/she really needs to understand their own role within an organization, and how they fit into the larger picture. Confusion can quickly lead to the all too common “that’s not my job,” or the sense that they are really just a cog in a much larger machine with no value beyond the day to day rigor.

Often, an employee’s sense of purpose comes from a company’s altruistic and commercial endeavours -“I do this work because…” When an individual takes pride in their work, either because they feel as though they are accomplishing something great, or because their work is recognized and rewarded, the entire company benefits.

Creating a sense of purpose on all levels results in accountability and empowerment. The direct benefit here is an allied, energized workforce, one that takes responsibility for their own tasks, as well as the tasks of the organization as a whole.

In building that sense of purpose, communication is crucial, and not just “do this,” but transparent communication (“do this because”). Ensuring an employee knows why a task is being assigned, its importance, as well as how it fits into the larger scheme of things, allows for a greater understanding of their role and why it is valuable. And remember to show that, no matter what the task, it’s important to the company.

In the end, a focus on employee engagement and creating a sense of purpose leads to increased efficiency, a unified workforce, and a greater level of awareness and satisfaction.

At Innovators Alliance, we are committed to helping you develop innovative strategies to keep employees engaged and to build a sense of purpose within your organization. Peer support and guidance can make a huge difference. Contact us today by calling 1-905-332-0340.

Roger Thenhaus

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Roger Thenhaus

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