Did you know that disengaged employees outnumber engaged ones almost two to one? On a global scale, this means that work is often more a source of frustration than fulfillment. And in South Africa, the picture is even bleaker: only 9% of the workforce is actively engaged, according to FIN24.
Think about it: how many of your employees are excited to come to work every day? How many feel inspired by their managers, trust the information they’re given, understand company performance, or know what’s expected of them? Unfortunately, for many, the answers to these questions are negative, which makes it all too easy to hit the snooze button instead of jumping out of bed.
Teamphoria and Employee Engagement
Employee engagement isn’t just about keeping workers happy or satisfied. As Jim Harter, a chief scientist at Gallup, explains: “Engaged employees are more attentive and vigilant. They look out for the needs of their coworkers and the organization because they personally ‘own’ the result of their work.” In other words, engagement is about emotional commitment to your organization and its goals—a connection that drives people to go the extra mile.
It’s easy to confuse engagement with satisfaction, but there’s a key difference: satisfaction doesn’t always make an impact on the bottom line. A satisfied employee might still take a recruiter’s call if they’re offered a little more convenience or money. Satisfaction doesn’t drive people to give their best every day. Similarly, happiness at work, while important, doesn’t necessarily equate to commitment to the organization.
Employee engagement, on the other hand, is about emotional commitment—that deep-seated desire to contribute to the organization’s success. It’s like a relationship: when you’re emotionally committed, you’re willing to put in that extra effort. Engaged employees show up just as motivated on a Friday afternoon as they do on a Monday morning. They take accountability, seek growth, and consistently give their best.
Why Employee Engagement Matters for Business Success
And why does this matter? Because engagement drives results. Engaged employees are more productive, provide better service, and are powerful ambassadors for your brand. This leads to happier customers, increased sales, and better overall performance—ultimately improving your bottom line.
How Teamphoria Can Help Improve Employee Engagement
To make this happen, everyone in the organization—from C-level executives to individual contributors—needs to prioritize engagement. Leaders need to communicate, align, recognize, and engage with their teams. This creates an environment where employees care about the company and its success, and in turn, contributes to better business outcomes.
Teamphoria offers tools and solutions that help organizations foster employee engagement effectively. By using Teamphoria, businesses can implement strategies that drive engagement, improve culture, and create an environment where employees thrive.
Employee engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the secret to moving the profit needle and achieving a greater return on investment. Engaged employees work harder, smarter, and with passion, creating a positive cycle of success that benefits everyone involved.
To truly foster engagement, organizations need systems, technologies, and strategies that support it. This includes investing in leadership training, performance management, and creating a culture of CARE: Communicate, Align, Recognize, and Engage. Teamphoria provides the tools and resources needed to build this culture and drive engagement effectively. By doing so, businesses can unlock the full potential of their teams and experience returns that make them wonder why they didn’t start sooner.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore why businesses often invest in hiring and paying their people but neglect to invest in truly engaging them. #restorethetrust
