People are a company’s single greatest asset—period

People are a company’s single greatest asset—period. While factors like innovative products, quality services and cutting edge strategies may contribute to success, none of these can be created or implemented properly without engaged employees. Research backs this up again and again. For instance, a Hay Group study found that companies with fully engaged employees produced 2.5 times as much revenue as companies struggling with low levels of engagement. Based on another survey, Gallup estimated that disengagement costs companies $68 billion. On the flip side, engaged employees are more productive and save money. The latter is due not only to increased efficiency but also to better retention rates. Only one out of four engaged employees would jump ship to a competitor for a five-percent salary increase—compared to 74 percent of disengaged workers. Bottom line? If you can engage every one of your employees, you simply cannot lose. If you have disengaged employees, it is all but impossible to ever win.

Dale Carnegie Training and MSW/ARS Research have conducted a series of studies on employee engagement. In 2012, they focused on large companies, followed by the release of a study specifically looking at the banking industry a year later. Then, in August 2013, they turned their attention to small businesses, with the objective of determining how organizations with less than 1,000 people can keep their employees engaged. How do they keep people happy and motivated without the expected career path and compensation increases available at their larger counterparts?

Engagement and Its Significance

Dale Carnegie Training defines engagement as winning the hearts and minds of employees and helping them believe in—not just understand—what they’re doing. Actively engaged employees believe in their company’s mission and are loyal to their employer, and they promote that feeling among their peers. Disengaged employees do what they’re told to do and go home—or...(想看完整請填寫以下的表格)