How to Build a Positive Workplace Culture with Employee Experience Management

Building a team of talented employees is a challenge -  the last thing you want is to lose them because of internal issues.

Unfortunately, we've all been there. You start a new job and find that, while they may put a lot of focus on their customers' experience, it's not really the same for their employees. You walk around and find people are bored, frustrated, burnt out, and unhappy. How can you avoid this? By investing in your employee experience management.

In this guide, we'll give you the lowdown on all things employee experience management— what it is, what it can do, and our top tips for implementing it at your company. 

What is employee experience management?

Employee experience management is essentially how a company goes about creating a positive work environment. When done right, it covers every aspect of an employee's interactions with the company and provides the best workplace experience possible. Instead of just chasing the bottom line, employee experience management puts the spotlight on their employees well-being to keep those top talents hanging around.

Employee experience management benefits

So, you know what employee management is. Next up, let’s look at what makes it so important and why it should be a focus at your company. 

Lower turnover 

Nobody wants a high turnover rate. But how do you start reducing it? The key lies in understanding the employee lifecycle. Many shy away from speaking up, fearing the consequences or thinking it won't make a difference. This could mean lurking issues flying under the radar for too long, fuelling discontent, and, worst-case scenario, unnecessary turnover.

Not convinced? According to Gallup, only 23% of employees feel like they're thriving at work. The remaining 77% are eyeing the exit, with 59% quietly quitting and 18% making a louder exit.

By actively managing their experience, and encouraging them to raise issues without judgment or fear of reprisal you can fix problems before they escalate. This increases the chances of employees staying (and even better, recommending your workplace to others!)

Better performance

We mentioned earlier that employee management can help improve workplace performance. But how?

Engaged employees are more than just present. They're motivated, productive, aligned with company goals, and committed to delivering their best. When they feel like you care about them, they’re more likely to care about you. This leads to enhanced performance and, ultimately, contributes to the overall success of the organization. 

More revenue 

Sometimes, employees accept workplace blues as the new normal. But we can do better! By focussing on employee engagement, you not only boost morale but also motivate your team to be active players in the company's success story. It's like flipping a switch. You disrupt the dull routine, and usher in an era of positivity. In turn, your company does better. In fact, a recent study found that businesses with highly engaged teams were 23% more profitable.

Best practices for employee engagement management

Now that you understand the importance of employee experience management and how it can positively impact your workplace culture, let's delve into some best practices you can use at your company. These strategies encompass every aspect of an employee's interactions with your organization and form the foundation of a robust employee experience strategy.

By now, you’re probably sold on employee engagement management. That means it’s time to start implementing it - and here are some best practices you can use at your company. 

1. Listen

The first step to great employee engagement is listening. Don’t make assumptions about what your team wants - ask them! After all, you want to be able to know how they’re feeling as soon as possible. This way you can remedy it before they begin to look for new opportunities at other companies. Some ways to do this include:

• Surveys: Throw out anonymous surveys to check in on how everyone's feeling. This should be done at least annually, but you could also opt for quarterly or even monthly to ensure that your finger is on the pulse. 
• Suggestion box: Whether it's a physical box in the office or a digital drop-box for your remote squad, create an avenue where your team can freely share their thoughts and suggestions. It's the direct line you need to stay in sync with your team's needs and sentiments.
• Self evaluations: Give your team the floor with employee self evaluations. Encourage your team to provide a personal perspective on their contributions and experiences. This process offers unique insights and also fosters a sense of ownership and involvement in the workplace dynamic.
• Focus groups: Set up small gatherings where your team can openly discuss specific aspects of their experience. Whether it's onboarding, burnout, or anything in between, these intimate sessions can explore what's working well and what needs attention.

2. Give useful feedback

Sharing good, honest feedback is a surefire way to keep everyone engaged. There's an art to it, however. Never dish it out in the heat of the moment, or focus solely on the negatives. Instead, use your observations to show how someone's doing well or where they can improve. Even if it's not all sunshine, delivering feedback in a constructive way can be a real motivator.

3. Acknowledge Achievements

Engaged employees will tend to always go above and beyond. That doesn’t mean you should take them for granted - a simple "thank you" can go a long way in making them feel seen. A manager or HR team who takes a moment to recognize and celebrate their team's achievements will likely foster a more engaged work environment. 

In fact, a recent study found that by doubling the number of employees who have received recognition or praise for doing good work, absenteeism was reduced to less than four days per employee annually, a 22% decrease. This saves the company millions in reduced absenteeism. 

4. Foster training and development opportunities 

While on-the-job training is crucial during onboarding, it shouldn't stop there. Continuous development and training opportunities are key to employee satisfaction, allowing your team to evolve and advance their careers. Here's some ways you can foster employee development:

• Learning portals: Set up an online hub for employee training. Organize lessons into tailored plans for different roles, providing employees with a clear path for growth and skill enhancement.
• Mentorship programs: Pair up your more junior employees with seasoned role models. Mentorship goes beyond formal guidance and can really offer valuable job-related insights in an informal setting.
• Tuition assistance: Support your team's educational journey by reimbursing them for completing approved courses from external organizations. 

5. Managing Burnout

Amidst the hustle, it's crucial to keep an eye on burnout. Engaged employees may pour their hearts into their work, but it's essential to prevent them from burning out. 

Recognize signs of fatigue, encourage breaks, and pay special attention to effective calendar management  to make sure they’re not clocking too many overtime hours. HR managers who proactively address burnout contribute to a healthier and more sustainable work environment. And who wouldn't want that?

Let's Make Work Awesome!

So there you have it. We've covered a range of topics about making work a great place to be, and why it matters. Remember, employee experience management is the key to having a workplace where everyone's happy, engaged, and great at their jobs.

Try out those best practices we shared – like listening up, giving useful feedback, and acknowledging achievements. And don't forget about training and development, it's a complete game-changer for making sure your employees want to stick around.

But why settle for good when you can go for awesome? Our employee engagement solution is here to make your life even easier. You can:

• Build a brilliant company culture with employee recognition, showing your team that their contributions are valued, boosting performance, and retaining your best talent.
• Keep your company in the loop, set the tone for the it’s overall culture and maximize transparency by announcing new hires, strategic decisions, and company milestones.
• Better engage your employees with employee nominations. Gather a bunch of nominations from the entire team and make sure their accomplishments are celebrated.

Book a demo today, and let's turn your workplace into a place where everyone loves to be.