At NetworkESC we know that there is a positive correlation between highly engaged workforces and employee productivity. All the data points to the fact that engagement drives performance. With that said, it is important that we understand exactly what employee engagement is. At its core, employee engagement measures the emotional commitment an employee has to his or her organization, its goals, and its objectives. When employees connect with the organization, they go the extra mile to push themselves to do just about anything that betters the organization.
So how do you achieve a highly engaged workforce? The tricks to figuring out the path to success are tapping into the heart of what your employees value the most. Generally speaking, the factors that tend to have the greatest impact on employees’ engagement levels include senior leadership, direct manager, corporate communication, recognition and rewards, relationship with co-workers, empowerment, and career path. To take it all a step further, NetworkESC believes that workplace diversity has a huge impact on employee engagement.
People typically attribute diversity to sex, religion, ethnicity, family status, and age. What about things like the difference in thought, personality, pathways to solving problems, and life experiences? Inclusion comes into play when the work environment enables each and every employee to perform at their best, regardless of their unique and individual difference.
So, if you put all of the above together, truly diverse and inclusive workplaces are in fact more successful organizations. If diversity and inclusion are based on the workplace enabling people to perform at their best, then what is employee engagement based on? The exact same thing. Diverse and inclusive workplaces boost employee engagement. This makes a lot of sense, and there is plenty of research that proves this.
Employee engagement is a strategic business imperative, so it only makes sense to include diversity and inclusion in the conversation.