I recently came across a flyer advertising an upcoming workforce engagement seminar titled, “The role of communication in creating an engaged and collaborative workforce.” Do you see the problem with this seminar? It implies that there are other ways to engage a workforce other than communication – and this is flat out wrong.
Companies spend billions of dollars per year on high profile events, entertainment, and shiny new programs designed to engage their workforce, spark morale, and ultimately improve the bottom line. While I am NOT saying that one-off events, entertainment, and HR programs provide no incentive for engagement, I am saying that this type of workforce engagement quickly fades away as soon as the event concludes, the celebrities leave, or a new program replaces an old one.
The only way to tap into the engagement potential of your workforce is through ongoing effective communication. Engagement is not a one-size fits all concept, because it operates on a continuum and cycles up and down depending on the business environment, the person’s mood, and the moon’s lunar attraction. Yes, this last one sounds funny but it’s true. Sometimes there’s no human explanation for why your most productive and enthusiastic employee is having a down day, or why an average employee suddenly hits a home run.
Return on Investment
Milestone events that can be marketed to the masses are great for capturing media headlines and a fleeting bump in engagement. Where businesses should put their money is in training their workforce to excel in the mundane moments in corporate hallways, the impromptu feedback conversations, and to run effectively structured meetings. While these scenarios are not sexy to talk about, they are the building blocks for a truly engaged workforce.
So if your company views the “role of communication” in creating an engaged workforce as just another variable in this equation instead of the PRIMARY variable, call Spark The Discussion to begin building engagement into daily conversations. We guarantee this foundation of engagement will last longer than the fleeting energy from a 1-time event.
