Employees are most engaged when their managers show care. They are likely to have less burnout and display more productivity. However, managers may have a hard time expressing their care in times of crisis. They may not be able to keep their employees as engaged as they should be. During COVID, for example, manager-employee relationships have changed significantly. It may be challenging to maintain employee engagement even after COVID. Here are a few practical ways to boost engagement after the pandemic.
1. Adopt a ‘Supportive Management’ Approach
In a scenario where employees need to work from home, the senior management has to find ways to manage their performance. If these measures weren’t already in place before the onset of the pandemic, managers might spend some time trying to learn and understand them.
One of the most important things to do is ensure that your management approach is supportive of the employees. Although it is essential to focus on your team’s productivity, you must also give them the support they need to be productive and help attain your goals.
Create open channels of communication between the management and employees. It should be easy for them to voice their concerns without fear, and you should be able to resolve them as soon as possible. When the management is committed and engaged, everyone else will be.
Another critical thing to keep in mind is your organization’s culture. Adopt a culture of appreciation and recognition. While constructive criticism is essential, the best teams have a criticism to praise ratio of 1:5. When employees feel appreciated, they are likely to be more engaged and productive.
2. Helping Employees Get Their Lives Back On Track
There are many ways for managers to help employees get back on track after a crisis. Simple yet effective tips include providing them with mental health support, offering financial support such as extra insurance, and sharing relevant, up-to-date information with them. Supplying them with lost pay stubs may seem like a small and insignificant step, but it is essential. All you need is a paystub maker.
3. Consider the Whole Employee
You need to look at your employees as whole people rather than just your workers. If one aspect of their lives isn’t going well, it affects everything else. This is especially true when the pandemic is involved. Employees have to juggle between their hobbies, families, and health. If any aspect is suffering, they can’t be productive or engaged.
Take time to understand your employees at a deep level. What are their struggles, goals, and strengths? Expressing care, especially during a crisis, can help build strong and lasting relationships.
4. Create a Positive Work Environment
One of the biggest challenges for many employees after the pandemic is the change of work environment. Having to move from the office to their homes is something to get used to. The biggest challenges include:
- Being alone at home.
- Putting up with noise from the neighbors.
- Other distractions that may affect workflow.
One of the most effective ways to improve employee engagement is by ensuring that they have a pleasant work environment. In the post-COVID times, management needs to remember that work fits into their employees’ lives. Not the other way round. Simple solutions to make the work environment more pleasant include offering flexible working hours, parental leave, pet-friendly space, and mental health days.
Most companies have done a great job addressing their employees’ safety needs during the pandemic. However, many of them struggle to improve engagement. After the pandemic, many employees are feeling discouraged and could use some help. Some of the best ways to improve engagement include helping them get their lives on track and adopting supportive management approaches.
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