Crafting an Exceptional Workplace – The Art of Elevating Employee Experience

We know that employees want to feel more engaged at work. They also wish for meaningful relationships with coworkers and managers, a sense of purpose and shared identity, and empathetic leadership.

But how do you create a culture that draws top talent? It starts with listening to Employee Experience.

Invest in Employee Development

Employees are more engaged when they feel their companies value their skills and provide opportunities for them to develop professionally. It translates to better customer service, which leads to higher profits for the business.

Offering professional development opportunities to employees is an effective way to enhance productivity and morale. Still, it also helps create a robust internal talent pipeline that can reduce the time and expense of hiring new employees. In addition, research shows that it costs a company an average of 6 to 9 months’ salary to replace an employee, so developing your team can be an intelligent financial decision.

Employees who feel valued will likely stay with the company and become ambassadors. This approach is critical as more workers choose freelance work and may not have a different connection or loyalty they might otherwise feel with a company. It can lead to a disconnect between the employee and the company if not addressed. One potential downside of job crafting is that it can leave employees open to exploitation, such as when zoo workers who chose to craft their jobs were found to be working unpaid overtime.

Invest in Your People

When attracting and retaining the best employees, leaders should consider how they can invest in their people. From creating a mentoring program to holding regular employee appreciation events, investing in your people is critical for creating an exceptional workplace.

Exceptional employees have incredible qualities that make them stand out from the rest of the workforce. They’re well-liked by their peers, have integrity, and demonstrate leadership skills even when they aren’t in an official management position. Managers can also trust these individuals to represent the company when meeting with customers and prospects.

One of the most important things you can do as a leader is to listen to your employees. Rather than just conducting periodic engagement surveys, you should genuinely listen to your employees’ feedback and provide actionable recommendations based on their needs.

Employee experience is an essential element of the workplace, and it should be top-of-mind for your entire organization, including your C-suite team. Employees who feel valued and engaged at work have higher productivity, better customer relationships, and lower turnover rates, leading to more tremendous business success.

Create a Culture of Collaboration

The secret to an exceptional workplace is collaboration. It allows employees to work together to achieve a common goal and creates a more positive working environment. It’s also a great way to help ensure everyone’s needs are met and their job is fulfilling.

Encouraging a collaborative workplace culture can increase idea sharing and feedback. It’s also an excellent way for people to build strong relationships with each other. It helps to boost morale, which in turn improves productivity.

Many companies tout collaboration as one of their core values, but it can be a challenging concept to implement. For example, some teams operate in isolation from other departments, and people hoard information and knowledge. It’s also easier to collaborate if you have clear roles and responsibilities for each person. That is why it’s essential to set goals that motivate your team and provide them with the tools they need to be successful. It’s also important to be transparent about your expectations and encourage frequent meetings with your team.

Create a Workspace that Encourages Creativity

Many of the world’s elite organizations have one thing in common: They all have a clear vision that helps their people thrive. These visions empower employees to do their best and help businesses grow by identifying new opportunities, differentiating products and services from competitors, and distinguishing brands in the marketplace.

Unfortunately, most people come to work not fully engaged or ready to perform their best. Surveys show that only 15% of workers arrive at work inspired, eager, and prepared to achieve their goals. That’s why workplaces must do everything possible to encourage creativity and boost employee productivity.

Creative workspaces have been shown to encourage brainstorming sessions and promote collaboration. For example, a collaborative office furniture solution allows employees to move around to create different work zones. If a team needs to focus on a project, they can head to the silent zone, while those who want to interact with their colleagues can take a break in the social zone. Even simple additions like plants can make a big difference, as studies show that those surrounded by natural elements can be 15% more productive.

Create a Culture of Trust

When employees feel they can trust the company, it helps foster collaboration and innovation. It also allows them to feel confident in their work, which can lead to greater customer satisfaction.

A growing body of research shows that people who work in high-trust organizations enjoy their jobs 66% more and are 85% more likely to be loyal to the organization. In addition, workers in high-trust companies are 11% more empathetic to coworkers and depersonalize others 41% less often than those who work in low-trust environments.

However, it is essential to note that suitable systems and cultures must support job crafting for Employee Experience to thrive. Without the proper support, employees may likely feel exploited by their employer for going above and beyond the call of duty, especially if they are not adequately reimbursed. Ensuring that all employees clearly understand how their work contributes to the company’s goals and values is essential. It will build trust in three critical ways: capability, character, and communication.