We all recognize “engaged employees” as those members of our staff who are always willing to put in extra effort. When given the opportunity, they will promote their company and will strive to inspire their peers. But according to a recent report from SHRM, on average, employees were only moderately engaged. Furthermore, employee engagement levels have remained stagnant for the last two years, despite the efforts of leadership teams to improve engagement and thus develop more productive employees. So what can we as business leaders do to improve employee engagement and avoid being part of the $350 billion per year that is lost on productivity?

One of the most effective ways to ensure all employees are engaged is to secure staff buy-in across all levels of your organization. Ask yourself, have you as the CEO of the company articulated the company’s vision, know what the organizational mission is, and have you shared with employees the company’s core values? A global management study indicated that organizations with clearly defined vision and mission statements that are aligned with a strategic plan outperform those who do not (Bain and Company). This success is directly related to the engagement of a company’s employees. When every employee understands how his or her specific job affects the organization, there is a sense of value and responsibility that connects people directly to the company’s success. In financial terms, companies with highly engaged employees were 200% more profitable than their peers with fewer engaged employees (Towers Watson).

As your company grows and your market changes, the vision you brought to some of your earlier employees may have shifted. In fact, given market voltage and customer demand it’s more likely than not that your vision has adapted. Take this time to revisit your mission and vision, re-examine your core values, and (most importantly) help your employees understand how they contribute to the company.

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