The world of business is moving faster than ever before and organisations are facing more than they can handle, both in terms of what it takes to expand and to meet their goals. They are being forced to grow faster with fewer resources, meaning that the employees that a business has are one of its biggest assets. With this in mind, it’s understandable that employee engagement is a top priority for HR teams around the world. Here are some tips on how HR staff can improve engagement and foster a culture of happiness, productivity and wellbeing in the workplace.

Ensure Employees Are in the Right Role

If people are in a job that doesn’t fit them, it’s only a matter of time before they seek out another position somewhere else. Talent acquisition and employee retention has to be one of the most challenging aspects of a HR role but it’s also one of the most valuable to the business. It is vital that HR professionals ensure that business strategies are aligned with the talent employers are bringing in and that staff have the room to utilise their skills effectively in that position.

Provide Ample Training

While making sure that people are in the correct position in the company is important, it’s also vital to remember that few people will be comfortable staying in the same position forever. No manager can expect to build a trusting culture or improve engagement without setting their staff up for success. This means providing plenty of training opportunities, having a development plan in place with every employee and following up on obstacles so that staff have the room to grow and expand in their careers. This will encourage engagement and employee retention rates in the company, while also keeping everyone’s skills up to scratch. This is something that HR can monitor and maintain, especially with the use of cloud HR software, keeping records of everyone’s training and ensuring that employee skills are kept current.

Make Projects Meaningful

Engaged staff have a clear understanding of how they fit into the business on a broader scale, but they’re also doing meaningful work day to day. No-one enjoys going to work just to feel like they’re wasting their time – it’s key to success, both for individuals and the business, that everyone knows how they are contributing to the company’s goals, strategies and objectives. There’s no benefit to HR hiring great talent, only to have it wasted because no-one is clear on what they are there for.

Have Regular Check-Ups

There’s little benefit in having a 20-minute catch-up once a year with your staff just to appease the records. Receiving regular feedback from staff is critical for correcting problems and reducing waste in a business, while also allowing teams like senior staff and HR to understand what is and isn’t working. These check-ins can be both formal and informal and should be regularly scheduled in throughout the year so that employees stay on track and strategic objectives are met. These meetings are a great opportunity to discuss projects that are being carried out, how the team and business will evolve going forward and also to plan in any training that staff feel they need. HR software is great for booking these types of meetings in so they don’t get overlooked.