Workforce Engage™ is a system for measuring and enhancing employee engagement- a term that includes trust, loyalty, pride, and cooperative spirit. The Workforce Engage system is built around a web-based employee survey. Going far beyond conventional employee satisfaction surveys, Workforce Engage measures and builds critical intangible assets such as trust, teamwork, and communication.
What accounts for the difference between an organization filled with ambivalent employees and one that has engaged employees-individually and collectively-producing superior results? Based on experience with over 500 organizations and communities, and extensive research, Community Initiatives has identified seven practices that drive engagement. Workforce Engage measures performance on these Seven Practices of an Engaged Workforce:
- Establish an Open Learning Environment
Organizations that emphasize and support learning are more creative and more adaptive. Healthcare professionals, in particular, place a premium on personal growth and development. - Nourish Teams and Networks
Healthcare is challenged to work effectively across many boundaries, disciplines and units. Mastering the organizational competence to form teams rapidly and create cohesion has become a key to top performance. - Generate a Sense of Community
Research has shown that organizations which achieve a greater sense of community-caring relationships and a web of shared meaning and purpose-are more resilient to challenges and have more committed employees. - Arrange Work to Minimize Stress & Maximize Balance
A growing body of evidence shows that personal balance and emotional well-being have profound impacts on decision-making effectiveness, time use, and productivity. - Grow Exceptional Managers and Supervisors
Studies across all industries suggests that an employee's relationship with his/her supervisor is a primary driver of retention, and a significant contributive factor to performance. - Embrace Personal Strengths
Finding ways to build on employees' individual strengths and assets has proven to be significantly more productive than trying to fix their weaknesses. People want to use their gifts and to feel they have made a difference. - Develop Pride and Confidence
Employees want to be proud of the services and care they provide to patients and families. Pride and confidence in one's organization correlates strongly with overall satisfaction and commitment.
Workforce Engage takes a unique approach that builds engagement from start to finish. Before the employee engagement survey is administered, Workforce Engage consultants work with senior leaders to obtain their commitment as well as organization-wide buy-in. After the survey, the employees are included in the interpretation of survey results, the selection of key areas for improvement, and the identification and implementation of solutions. Throughout the process, Workforce Engage enlists employees as a force for positive change, deepening their level of engagement even as workforce challenges are identified and addressed. The result is greater cohesion among leadership, managers, and employees; and ultimately, better performance.
