Employee engagement wields significant influence that has the capacity to shape the trajectory of an organization’s success — for better or worse. High employee engagement and a positive workplace culture are closely intertwined and often mutually reinforcing.

In this article, we offer insights on the what, why and how behind boosting employee engagement and provide some key areas of focus organizations can hone in on to cultivate a positive and accepting workplace culture.

Significance of Employee Engagement

Traits like ambition, tact and creativity can increase an employee’s value. However, among these, engagement could be regarded as the most pivotal factor, as it is owned and internalized by each individual. This signifies that engaged employees are inherently driven to excel, ultimately contributing toward not only an organization’s success but also its culture. Conversely, disengaged employees are far more likely to feel unmotivated, lose confidence in their teams and not feel like their contributions are valuable to the company, which can greatly detract from a company’s culture.

Beyond the obvious benefits of having reliable, content team members, employee engagement can also help increase your return on investment (ROI). According to a 2023 Aon Hewitt analysis of 94 global companies, each percentage point of employee engagement improvement correlated to 0.6% in sales growth for the organization. This is likely because engaged employees are enthusiastic and absorbed in their work, therefore wanting to take actions to contribute to the organization’s goals, success and culture.

Engagement’s Effect on Company Culture

High employee engagement isn’t just a performance metric; it’s a catalyst for fostering a positive workplace culture that resonates throughout an organization. A culture where employees are deeply engaged is one where collaboration, innovation and a sense of belonging thrive. When employees are actively engaged, they are more than just task performers; they are advocates of the company’s mission and values. This alignment between personal values and organizational purpose is the cornerstone of a positive culture.

In essence, elevating employee engagement is like infusing positive energy into the organizational bloodstream. It creates a virtuous cycle where engaged employees contribute to a positive culture, which in turn fuels higher engagement levels. This interconnected relationship between engagement and culture reshapes not only the employee experience but also impacts customer satisfaction, brand perception and, ultimately, the bottom line.

Engagement in Practice

Employers’ methods vary in terms of engagement, but they all focus on employees’ needs, such as:

• Connect what employees do to what they care about. Ensure your organization’s mission statement, value proposition and communications serve to give team members a clear, unwavering beacon to look to and identify with.
• Make the work itself less stressful and more enjoyable. Whether it be granting more professional autonomy or increased flexibility, employees want to feel that they’re encouraged to be themselves and grow.
• Be an active participant when managing people. This can be achieved by employee engagement surveys, quarterly meetings to gauge their feelings or even vocalizing a success in front of colleagues. Team members yearn to feel heard, understood and celebrated.

By nurturing engagement and aligning it with purpose and values, your company can harness the potential of your workforce to drive success and cultivate a positive culture.

Connect with a CBIZ professional to learn more.