Employee Engagement Tools

What is an employee engagement tool?

Engagement tools are any kind of tool that helps an organization increase employee engagement. They include survey software, communication platforms, intranet platforms, recognition platforms, project management software, and applications.

Surveys (employee engagement and 360 degree feedback)

These are the most recognized engagement tools on the market. They help organizations collect anonymous feedback from staff to measure engagement and/or assess perceptions of senior leaders and managers.

Communication and collaboration tools

These platforms provide structure to improve and monitor processes. They make it easy for employees to connect to one another, share information, check in with their manager, receive organization updates, and more. They help create transparent organizations.

Project management tools

Grant employees ownership of their roles and autonomy in managing their time. These task management platforms enhance communication among team members and offer valuable insights into how individual contributions impact the success of broader projects.

Recognition platforms

Provide a space for the organization, and peers, to celebrate achievements. These platforms often include public praise, perks, and rewards programs.

What are the benefits of using employee engagement tools?

Unlock the potential of your workplace. Employee engagement tools empower organizations to improve the work environment, helping employees feel motivated and find fulfillment in their roles. By leveraging these tools, employers can conduct regular surveys and monitor the impact of initiatives aimed at addressing and incorporating valuable feedback from employees.

Best Employee Engagement Tools - What to look for in an engagement platform:

Forbes councils member, Kiran Mann, recommends considering the following features: "the user experience offered by the tools, data segmentation and analytics capabilities, GDPR compliance and integration capabilities with existing technologies employed by your organization."

Here's more in-depth information about these features, and more:

Survey Crafting and Distribution:

It’s not only WHAT you ask, but HOW you ask it. A solid platform will have benchmark questions that encompass a broad range of relevant topics. Two primary factors that drive employee engagement, based on statistical analysis and widely supported by industry research, are “engagement with the organization” and “engagement with my manager.” The survey will measure an employee’s perceptions about the work environment, leadership, organization culture, workload, and more.

Likewise, a survey should be as easy to access as clicking on a secure link. Anonymity helps build trust and gives your senior leaders a better gauge of engagement because staff is more likely to be honest when replying.

Real-time Feedback Mechanisms:

Tools that facilitate the collection of real-time feedback allow organizations to promptly address concerns, adjust plans, and implement necessary changes.

Data Analytics Proficiency:

Robust analytics tools are a hallmark of quality solutions. In the past, it could hundreds of work hours to analyze survey results. Now, with advanced software systems (SaaS), quality platforms can take the survey data and identify trends and glean valuable insights into the drivers of employee engagement and disengagement. This analysis is not only for the whole organization but also within departments and different demographic groups.

Action Planning:

A good survey process will feature action planning functionalities that assist organizations in formulating and executing strategies to improve engagement based on survey findings.

Peer Acknowledgment and Rewards:

Certain tools integrate features that promote peer-to-peer recognition and incentivization, nurturing a culture of appreciation and motivation.

Goal Alignment Utilities:

Aligning individual employee goals with the overarching objectives of the organization ensures a collective effort toward shared goals. Using a software platform for employees to track their progress and growth can increase motivation and provide meaning to their work.

“Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organization. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity, and meaning in their job.” - Ken Blanchard and Scott Blanchard

Learning and Development Resources:

An engagement platform can provide resources for skill development and career progression, granting access to training materials and development plans.

Strategic Communication:

Look for communication features such as chat, messaging, polls, pulse checks, and news feeds to facilitate seamless collaboration and information exchange. This feedback loop will give senior leaders and HR the ability to continually improve the employee engagement strategy.

What are the advantages of employee engagement tools?

Save time, resources, and data:

Software solutions save HR valuable time. They collect all the data and keep them in the same place. They provide sophisticated analysis of the data collected. Using the same platform over years can give your senior leaders and HR valuable insight into trends, tendencies, changes.

Increased Employee Engagement and Productivity:

Through feedback collection and the resolution of concerns, organizations can elevate job satisfaction, leading to higher morale and reduced turnover. This, too, translates into better employee performance and customer satisfaction.

Informed Decision-Making:

Robust data analytics provide invaluable insights that steer strategic decisions. Organizational actions will align with employee feedback. This drives performance.

Strengthened Organizational Culture:

Employee engagement tools contribute to the cultivation of a positive organizational culture, reinforcing shared values and a sense of belonging.

Integrating employee engagement tools into an organization's HR and management toolkit represents a strategic move toward building a highly engaged, satisfied, and productive workforce. Choosing tools that align with an organization's specific needs and objectives is crucial. It's important to understand that while technology is valuable, it's just one part of the equation.

Effective leadership, a healthy company culture, and ongoing initiatives to address employee concerns all contribute significantly to improving employee engagement.

“On what high-performing companies should be striving to create: A great place for great people to do great work.” - Marilyn Carlson