Technology has dramatically enhanced our way of communicating and engaging ourselves with our loved ones, right? We have seen tremendous changes over the years in different fields of professions. Let’s face or focus on these changes in the HR world. We all know that it has helped the HR soldiers to ease their complex tasks and brought a lot of transparency, but the question is, had it built a stronger employee engagement? I would say, yes.
Over the years, HR leaders have managed to maintain a strong, opinionated and friendly behavior with their employees throughout. They have built a bond with their employees. But was it possible through those traditional approaches? Frankly speaking, no! It all happened through technology.
A lot to say, a lot to gain. Fasten your seat belts and let’s dig more into this together.
What was employee engagement like?
How beautiful it is when you are being heard! Imagine having a bond with someone like that. You will obviously love to listen to them too. But that’s about a normal person not an employee. This is how it used to be.
Let me tell you a story. Once there was an employee and an employer. The employee was strictly an employee, and the employer was just a boss. They never bonded and that’s the end of the story, my friends.
This strict relationship was one of the significant reasons for the downfall of entire employee engagement.
Let’s look at some of the approaches that built this strict and unchangeable bond between the employee and employer.
- The “I-am-the-boss” mindset: The employer’s mindset of “I am the boss” leads to communication gaps and a barrier in the way of their friendly relationship. This sets a limit between the employee and the employer.
- Lack of awareness: “Awareness is a key ingredient in success. If you have it, teach it, if you lack it, seek it.” well said by Michael Kitson. Lack of awareness has always been an issue. Unknowingly, the HRs earlier led to a situation they didn’t want to be in.
- Minimal attention to employee: It is important for the employees to be understood and be vocal for their peace and confidence. Earlier, employers never got this concern which ultimately paid off with decreased employee retention rate.
- Stressful environment: Nobody likes getting stressed and working in such an environment. Employers used to create a lot of stressful situations for some employees by not equally distributing the workload or through realistic deadlines. This in turn compelled the employees to think about their career choices.
Why do we need to change the traditional structure?
Traditional approaches were way too strict. They had bounded both the employees and employers to a certain limit. To change such work culture, it was essential for the HR managers to change their work theory.
- To maintain communication: It is extremely important for the employers to maintain good communication with the employees to understand their needs and expectations that might not be possible with their orthodoxy mindset.
- To increase Employee Retention Rate: In an environment where the employee knows that they are heard, recognized and engaged, they will feel comfortable. They would want to stay in such surroundings for a long time, which will increase the employee retention rate.
- To ensure employee loyalty: You reap what you sow. When you give what you want, the employee will meet your expectations. They will be dedicated and loyal to the employer in every possible way. This will bring a harmonious and peaceful work culture.
- To ensure higher productivity: In a stressful work culture where an employee can’t express what they are feeling, they won’t be able to give their 100 per cent. Employee engagement and related activities will fresh their minds and help them to be highly productive.
The impact of HR software on Employee Engagement.
Gartner HR Research finds only 31% of Employees Report They Are Engaged, Enthusiastic and Energized by Their Work. This shows the need to have a more engaging relation between the employee and the employer.
Now, you must be thinking how we can achieve higher employee engagement. Let me tell you a not-so-secret secret. Over the years, HR software has brought a different dimension to the way of looking at things now.
HR software can be a baby step towards employee engagement because of,
- Its Availability: HR Software is made available to everyone through a mobile application or website. This increases the ease and flexibility of using it anywhere. The employee can do the necessary and the employees can reply to the same immediately with the device available to them.
- Its Features: HR software is filled with numerous features that can interest the employees to increase their want to use the software and engage with the employees. Customizable badges, Rewards, Enterprise walls, appreciation section, feedback submissions are made easy with HR software which engages the employees in the activities.
- Its Simplified usage: HR software is not as complex as applications like discord (I still don’t know how to use it). It is a simple and interactive platform where an employee can express their way of thinking on the enterprise wall or simply appreciate their seniors for being a great leader through appreciation badges.
- Its self-service: HR software has options for the employees to mark their attendance, regularizing the attendance in case of any discrepancies, apply for leave. These options allow the employee to get in regular touch with the software and the employer.
Summing it up.
Employees are an essential part of our organizational family. We, as the HR leader, should ensure that they feel like family with us. They should be able to interact with us in every possible way. There is a huge difference between hearing and listening. Be a listener not someone who just hears things.
I hope we helped you to gain some great knowledge and content. We’ll keep bringing in more for you.
Till then Keep Reading, Keep Thinking and Keep HRing!