Spring clean employee engagement

The start of Spring can spark a surge of thorough cleaning and decluttering in our homes and our lives to freshen things up for the rest of the year. We identify what we really need – and get rid of what we don’t – to make sure things are streamlined and focused for the months ahead.

Similarly, it could be a good time to refresh engagement strategies and practices, to ensure we’re focusing on activities that strengthen the organisation’s connection with its people (and strip out anything that doesn’t).

Some years ago, we at Sweet Comms put together some simple tips for conducting this kind of check. They seem as relevant now as they were then, so in summary:

1.     Examine your aims

Do your aims for the year still ring true, or do they need to be adjusted? Have you got a clear sense of what you are seeking to achieve with different employee groups?

                   2.   Sense check with stakeholders 

      Conduct an informal audit with your executives and other stakeholders to gain feedback on progress during the year and to help crystallise priorities for the road ahead.

     3.     Road test your narrative

We all know the importance of a strategic narrative, to connect colleagues with the company purpose and provide context for activities during the year. Is it time to check whether all messages are still relevant and resonate? Do you need an update to guide further progress?

                 4.    Check your channel strategy 

Channels and tools don’t have to be for life. You can change or replace them whenever you like. So are you sure they’re delivering what you need from them?

                  5.   Develop more dialogue 

Examine the mechanisms currently in place and consider additional or alternative steps you can take to make open discussion a stronger part of ‘business as usual’.

   6.    Find your secret weapons 

With ongoing pressure on resource, can you identify informal ‘champions’ who could – with a little support and even a sprinkle of training – help you engage some of your employee groups?

   7.      Promote what you do

The award entry season is in full swing, so have a look and see whether any schemes or categories might give you an opportunity to celebrate your successes.

If nothing else, the simple steps above might confirm you’re on the right road. Or they might make you think again and maybe make some changes. In any event, asking some questions now, and carving some space for reflection this Spring, will help you keep developing and improving your approach.