One of the key factors for measuring organizational success is how engaged its employees are. When employees feel invested in their company’s ethos and are motivated to contribute to its growth, they are more likely to deliver their best. According to employee engagement research carried out by Gallup, engaged employees also have higher wellbeing, better retention, lower absenteeism and higher productivity.
These findings reveal the importance of employee engagement for overall productivity, job satisfaction and morale and companies that fall short in this area can benefit from implementing strategies to improve this essential aspect of their operations. One way to achieve this is through the strategies and practices derived from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification, as outlined below.
Practical Strategies for HR Professionals
SHRM certification can equip HR professionals with the skills they need to foster greater employee engagement within their organizations. This can be achieved by implementing practical strategies derived from some of the core competencies of the SHRM model as outlined below:
- Communication: By prioritizing open, transparent and regular communication with employees, HR professionals can help to foster a more positive and transparent culture which helps to build trust and where employees feel heard and valued. Clear communication also ensures expectations and responsibilities are understood, helping employees feel confident and empowered in their roles and able to contribute positively to their organization’s success.
With the channels of communication open, employees can be recognized and rewarded for their efforts and successes as well as invited to provide feedback on what supports their engagement. This creates a positive feedback loop and a culture where employees feel valued, seen, and supported.
- Relationship management: The SHRM model teaches HR professionals the skills needed to create and maintain positive relationships with employees, allowing them to better understand their needs and concerns. A workforce that feels valued, trusted and supported in this way is more likely to be motivated and happy at work, helping to maximize employee engagement.
This approach also extends to conflict resolution in the workplace as the SHRM model can provide HR professionals with a toolkit to handle such issues effectively when they arise. By encouraging employees to treat each other with respect, and teaching ways that supervisors can work together with employees to help resolve conflict in the workplace, SHRM certification can help to maintain a more harmonious and engaged workplace.
- Global and cultural effectiveness: The SHRM model defines this core competency as “the ability to value and to consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties in global business.”
Through SHRM certification, HR professionals are taught key behaviors such as maintaining openness to the ideas of others, demonstrating non-judgmental respect for their perspectives and appreciating the commonalities, values, and individual uniqueness of all human beings. As a result, they can facilitate diversity within teams and organizations, promoting healthy working relationships, and greater employee engagement.
As outlined, SHRM certification can be a valuable asset in equipping HR professionals with the core competencies they need to help maximize employee engagement within their organizations.
Guest writer.
