A successful business owes a lot of its success to its employees. As such, it’s important to keep your employees happy, productive and eager to work. If at the end of the workday your employees run for the exits, leaving you to turn out the lights then perhaps it’s time to take a look at your employees’ engagement.

What is Employee Engagement?

According to Forbes, employee engagement is the emotional commitment an employee has to the organization he or she works for and its goals. In other words, it means that the employee actually cares about their work and the company they work for. They are not just working for a paycheck or another promotion, but instead, are truly interested in working to help their company meet its goals. And when an employee truly cares, he or she will give their absolute best to the organization and be happy to do so. The result? Better business outcomes.

So when it comes to running a successful business, employers should make employee engagement a priority. Here are five reasons why.

1. Better Engagement Equal Better Productivity

When people really care about something, they truly try their best. And they do so because they want to. This is especially so when it comes to the business world. When employees are engaged at work, they feel an actual connection with the company. They believe the work they’re doing is important and appreciated, so, therefore, they work harder. And when your workers are more productive, your customers are happier and the business is more profitable.

2. Less Employee Turnover

Have you ever worked at a job where you felt like your work was unappreciated? If so, how long did you stay there?

Employees who feel appreciated, respected, needed and wanted are much more likely to enjoy their jobs than ones who feel unappreciated. These are the employees that will be less inclined to look for work elsewhere, and more inclined to do their best work.

In addition, employees who are happy and enjoying their jobs are also more likely to form connections with their coworkers. And a happier team that works well together is a more productive team which in turn leads to a more profitable business. Besides, wouldn’t you prefer to be surrounded by happy workers who enjoy coming to work?

3 Increased Customer Satisfaction

In many cases, it is the employees who are directly involved with the customers. And customers that have a positive experience are much more likely to keep coming back than those who have a negative one.

When your employees are engaged, they are much more likely to be positive and enthusiastic about the company’s product or purpose. They are also far more likely to deliver a positive customer experience than a negative one. We all know that satisfied customers are happy customers. And happy customers will keep coming back.

4 Better Management Teams

Low levels of employment engagement can also lead to negative perceptions of company management. Employees often disengage and stop supporting the management team, and some even lose sight of the company’s mission. The support of the employees is paramount when any business organization wants to grow and innovate.

5 Better Creativity

Another reason employee engagement is so important is because employees who know that their ideas are heard, considered, respected and appreciated, are more likely to come up with new ideas and better solutions. They are creative, excited and driven. Disengaged employees, on the other hand, have little interest in being creative or even contributing to the bigger picture. And who can blame them if they feel that they are not needed and unappreciated?

Final Thoughts

If you want employees that show up and are involved, not just because they’re paid to be, but because they’re invested, emotionally or otherwise, then employee engagement should be at the top of your list. Engaged employees are more productive and efficient. They are more interested in their jobs, less likely to quit and driven to provide a better customer experience. They are happier at work and in their lives as well. And all of this translates to a better business outcome.