7 Ways to Engage a Team

Creating a culture where employees succeed is easier than you might think.

It’s tough to find good people. And it’s tough to keep them engaged throughout the day. Today’s world of digital distractions and instant information creates a challenging environment for workplaces up and down the spectrum.

 We have an opportunity to create an environment where employees want to do their best work — this is good for them, good for us and good for the clients we serve. It’s a win-win-win situation.

At SEH we foster an environment where employees are given not only the tools for success, but the attitudes as well.

Jackie put together seven important tips for engaging employees:

1. ASK WHAT’S IMPORTANT. There’s no better way to find out what motivates your employees than to ask them yourself. Sometimes a simple conversation is all you need to head your employees in the right direction.

2. WHEN YOU ASK, RESPOND. Quickly. Let people know that you’re listening, and what they’ve said is important to you. There’s no easier way to build a good rapport with your staff than to simply let them know you are listening.

3. GET TO KNOW YOUR EMPLOYEES. Find out what makes them tick. Find out what they like to do outside the office, what sports teams they like, what’s their family dynamic. Being able to relate to your employees this way will create a friendly dynamic that will go a long way.

4. RECOGNIZE. RECOGNIZE. RECOGNIZE. Look for opportunities to provide meaningful and specific recognition. Go beyond the simple “Nice Job!” Be specific as to what you value. You’ll see more of it.

5. DON’T BE SCARY. Nobody likes to be yelled at, and nobody likes to be talked down to. It’s kind of the Golden Rule here — when your employees feel respected, they’ll have better attitudes and you’ll see greater productivity too.

6. TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR. Are you engaged at work? Are you having fun? Your employees will mirror what they see you doing. If you want an engaged staff, be engaged yourself.

7. SET GOALS. It’s best to set short-term goals that your staff can hit quickly. When they see they’re accomplishing something, they will likely want to accomplish more. And when a team sees they are completing goals, they will be more likely to push each other.

Getting your employees engaged throughout the work day is easier than you think. Take a quick look at how you’re doing things, and with a few easy tweaks, you’ll see greater productivity in no time.

Voice of SEH Employee Owners

Here’s what some of our employees said were reasons they valued working for SEH and how it increased their engagement.

“The work-life balance at SEH allows me the flexibility to take care of my child and plan safe runways and airports for our clients.” - Jacque Gamet, LEED GA

“An idea I had about investing in and using a 3D laser scanner to better help our clients was put into action.” - Luke Pederson

“I value the pat on the back you get from a client who is happy with the work we’ve done — it really puts things into perspective.” - Mark Dierling, PE (Retired)

“SEH gives back to the community through things like food drives and cancer fundraisers. That kind of involvement is important to me.” - AJ Masuen

“SEH supported my pursuit of a master’s degree not only financially, but with a flexible schedule, allowing me to complete my studies as well work in the office.” - Lindsey Roberts McKenzie, PE

“It was an honor to be named an SEH Associate, along with seven of my co-workers.” - Tara Krista, PE

“One of the best things of working for SEH is that we are employee-owned. We are all one big team. When SEH does well, we all do well.” - Mark Broses, PE

“I have the opportunity to work with professionals who take pride in working on important projects that affect the community.” - Justin Gese, PE

To learn more, contact Jackie Zamorano at jzamorano@sehinc.com.

Did you know?

Companies with engaged employees outperform those without by up to 202%
Source: Gallup