FEATURE:WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT


Are your employees engaged? Your new employee is happily “onboard”; the next challenge is to maintain that enthusiasm and create a workplace where every employee is committed to your organisation’s goals, and motivated and equipped to contribute to them daily.


Here are some key factors to achieving successful employee engagement:


1. Communicate well & often A good internal communications’ strategy is vital to creating a company culture that reflects your organisation’s values, reduces confusion and leaves employees feeling that they understand the vision of the company and their part in it. The best internal communications’ channels allow


employees to access information easily and in their own time, provide opportunities for questions and feedback, and can be absorbed effortlessly. Consider communicating through a variety of channels that go beyond email, to suit different needs - including those of remote and non-office based workers - such as short videos, on-demand audio/podcasts, text messages and in-organisation social media.


2.Create trust through transparency When leaders and managers are regularly hidden behind closed doors it can be hard for employees to feel they are getting the full picture within the organisation, leading to mistrust and low morale. Consider providing regular leadership


communications to keep employees updated on the business, and open channels for feedback, questions


and discussion. If in-person communication isn’t possible then audio and video can convey a sense of openness and honesty.


3.Training and development Ongoing workforce training serves two purposes: it signifies to your employees that you value them and are willing to invest in them (improving retention and engagement), and it helps you to fill any skills’ gaps from within. Identify external training opportunities through


organisations like the Chamber of Commerce, but also create training in-house to cater to your employees’ ongoing needs. Consider producing “bite size” courses using video,


audio and interactive training that your workforce can consume easily and at their own pace. Step-by-step training is less demanding on employees who are still expected to fulfil their other work (and family) duties, and it’s more likely to be absorbed and retained.


Digital media is readily available and offers multiple ways to engage with your employees, improve their skills and enhance your company culture. Take a look at how your workforce development – and business, as a whole - might be improved by adding simple whiteboard videos, on-demand audio and interactive multimedia programmes to your onboarding, internal communications and training processes.


This article was submitted by Fresh Air Group, an award-winning internal and external communications agency, specialising in employee, marketing, and training audio and video solutions. Find out more at: www.freshairgroup.co.uk


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 


• Professional Performance • Work/Life Balance • Stress Management • Dilemma Coaching (20 minute model) • Emotional Intelligence & Resilience • Professional Communication • Team Dynamics


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November/December 2017 Chamber Profile 15


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