As organizations grow larger in size, it can become more challenging to keep employees engaged and connected. However, employee engagement is crucial for productivity, innovation, and retention. Here are some best practices for promoting engagement within a big company:
Why Is Good Communication Important?
Clear and frequent communication with employees is vital for building trust, alignment, and engagement across an organization. When leaders actively listen, share key updates openly, ask for input, and respond to concerns in a timely manner, employees feel valued and invested in the company’s success. This drives higher productivity, morale, and retention over the long term.
Communicate More Frequently
- Send out regular all-company emails or newsletters to share major updates, successes, personnel changes, and company news. Employee communication software helps keep all staff looped in.
- Encourage managers to over-communicate with their direct reports through weekly check-ins on progress and well-being. Don’t rely solely on annual reviews.
- Leverage digital tools like instant messaging and project management platforms so questions and feedback can be addressed quickly between teams and supervisors.
- Utilise digital signage software so important announcements and other content are delivered simultaneously company-wide.
Promote Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Facilitate opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing across silos and physical office locations through online forums, special Slack channels, industry conferences, or in-person summits. Try to involve all relevant departments early in major initiatives and projects so ideas and expertise are shared across traditional divides.
Spotlight cross-functional wins and learnings regularly in company-wide channels.
Offer Development & Advancement Options
- Create clear career tracks with options for specialization so ambitious employees can grow skills rather than stagnating or leaving the company.
- Support internal mobility and transfers between teams and cities so staff can find the best role fit and expose themselves to new challenges.
- Invest in robust learning management platforms, skills training, mentorship programs and tuition assistance.
Encourage Belongingness & Connection
Facilitate small group meetings, virtual or in-person, for colleagues to engage beyond just work, especially those working remotely. Make sure you support the creation of Employee Resource Groups tailored to affinities like working parents, women in leadership, LGBTQ employees, veterans, etc.
It is essential that employees from all corners of the company understand that every role contributes to the success of the business.
Listen & Take Action
Conduct periodic engagement and satisfaction surveys with all staff and share back the key takeaways. Additional shortened surveys could be conducted quarterly to measure progress. Consider incentives for staff to complete surveys, such as gift cards or time off awards. Break down survey results by department, tenure, and demographics to glean additional insights.
Solicit real-time feedback via anonymous forums or suggestions boxes. Send out occasional pulse surveys on current topics of interest to complement the ongoing forum. Have a team dedicated to monitoring forums and boxes frequently to identify trends and urgent issues. Set goals to implement a certain percentage of feasible suggestions within a defined timeframe.
Empower people managers with training and tools to have quality career conversations and address morale on their teams quickly. Provide managers with sample questions and talking points for career discussions catered to tenure and career stages. Share peer coaching opportunities for managers to practice conversation scenarios. Set an expectation for managers to meet 1:1 at least biweekly with direct reports to maintain an open dialogue.
By taking a targeted approach across these areas, larger enterprises can spur connection, community and engagement – no matter the size. Employees who feel seen, heard and connected are more likely to thrive.
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