Employee engagement is not a complex concept. Actually, it is quite simple.  Individuals, by nature, want to help out those around them. However, when one lacks all the tools needed to feel safe, respected, and a platform that promotes success, the employee will become disgruntle and work performance will decrease.  Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging. Once employees have achieved that feeling, great things tend to happen.

Appropriate Tools + Respect = An Engaged Employee

When referring to “appropriate tools,” we are not referencing computers or the office supply closet.  We are talking about the building blocks that make an employee feel  safe and respected.You will never be able to motivate and engage an employee who is under-paid or under-appreciated. You’re employing a human being, not a robot. Humans have basic needs that will always come before the needs of a business. If you’re a business owner and want your employees only working on work related tasks while at the office, take care of their basic needs first.

Basic needs can be broken down into two parts: physiological needs and safety needs. Both are interlaced and equally important in a business environment. Physiological needs refer to an individual’s need for food, water, and rest. Safety needs refer to security and safety. Those may sound simple and pose the question “what do these have to do with business?” If employees are hungry, tired, or behind on their bills–it has everything to do with business. Their minds are not on selling your goods or services. They are worried about those outside factors and, consequently, the business is not receiving 100% work production. This decrease can likely lead to upset customers or delayed production in goods and in return loss revenue.

To build a respectful and trustworthy relationship with the employees within any environment. You must care enough about them to make sure they are given the tools to take care of their basic needs. Once basic needs are met they will begin feeling a part of the team and, in return, care about the success of the business. This sense of caring will increase customer satisfaction and overall revenue.