Employee Engagement levels has reduced significantly around the world. Research completed by Hewitt Consulting shows the worst decline in staff engagement levels in 15 years. This highlights the growing tension between employers — many of which are struggling to stabilize their financial situation — and employees, who are showing fatigue in response to a lengthy period of stress, uncertainty and confusion brought about by the recession and their company's actions.
Since July 2008, at the onset of the economic downturn, Hewitt began closely analyzing changes in employee engagement levels by quarter for more than 900 organizations globally that conducted annual engagement studies. These studies covered topics such as employee morale, confidence in the organization, career opportunities, rewards and recognition programs, and trust in leadership.
Our recent survey that we conducted of our database and the interviews we conducted with people across various industries support this. What people want from a leader, they are not getting. 65% of respondents do not believe there is a culture of leadership in the organization they work in or a strong leadership focus. 98% of people stated it is important they connect with their leader.
Given the Hewitt study has sited leaders have lost connection with their team, people are telling us they are not getting the leadership they need, and our observations that business today is in a leadership crisis with business leaders having lost connection with their business and team, I suspect that the majority of business do not have a high engagement level.
We are facing into a skills shortage. Attracting and retaining good staff should be a priority for all business leaders right now. And if it’s not, it needs to be.
Business Leaders need to review the engagement levels in their business and not make the mistake of assuming. Ask questions, seek feedback. Then implement a strategy that is going to mean business growth and ultimately more time back to you as the business leader. You want people to want to work for you. Productivity skyrockets if you can get this right.
It goes without saying, you have an engaged team, you have a better business.