22 Oct 2019

Is engagement simply another part of culture?

“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate,” Seth Godin, Author of ‘Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us’.

What Seth Godin writes about tribes also relates to companies, workplaces and employees – all of which contribute to, influence and create organisational culture. The advantages of a positive workplace culture cannot be overstated. Employees working for a company with a strong culture are not only happier but are more engaged.

Over the past couple of decades, the subject of employee engagement has been a popular one in HR circles. And it’s not difficult to see why; employees who are engaged in their work are more productive, are more likely to become brand ambassadors, and are more likely to stay with their current employer.

But is engagement simply another part of culture?

Engagement cannot be created in a vacuum

Enjoying our work, using our skills and knowing that what we do matters all contributes to engagement. However, employee engagement cannot be created in a vacuum.

The likelihood of us being engaged in our work increases by feelings of being connected to the company’s values, our co-workers and working together towards a unified cause. In other words, engagement goes hand-in-hand with company culture.

On the contrary, it’s unlikely an individual can experience high levels of engagement if he or she worked in a toxic work environment and was not aligned with the company’s mission and goals. As shared by Thrive Global, people don’t leave toxic jobs, they leave toxic work cultures.

Let’s do this together

If you have ever wondered just how important work relationships are, author Michelle Gielan shares in her book Broadcasting Happiness that our social connections are, in fact, the number one greatest predictor of our happiness.

As shared in our e-book on Employee Engagement, every employee not only seeks meaningful work but also meaningful connections. The workplace offers a golden opportunity to connect people.

To make employees feel connected to your organisation and feel part of your company culture, first, they must feel they have a role to play. And what better way than through communicating and aligning employees with company values, company goals and company mission? Employees who feel valued and align themselves with the company’s values and mission are more committed to their work and the organisation.

On the importance of workplace culture, Josefine Söderqvist, director of human resources at Benify, says: “Great employees create great culture, and great culture creates a great a place to work”.

Opportunities for development and career progression, feeling a sense of belonging and finding meaning in one’s work all play a crucial role in engagement and company culture. Make employees and teams aware that what they do matters. Encourage and welcome ideas. The fact is that companies with a culture of openness, trust, learning and development are ultimately more competitive.

Want to increase employee engagement? Focus on culture.

This article is provided by Benify.