Employee experience: Know how to make it count.
“Employee experience is human experience,” says EX expert Ben Whitter. So how can you improve your EX approach to attract and retain great people?
When people join your team, they become a part of your culture and (hopefully) committed to your mission. Every aspect of our relationship with work and our employer matters. If improving engagement and retention is on your mind, employee experience should be too.
Curating a positive employee experience is at the heart of good leadership and effective employer brand.. So what is employee experience anyway, and how can you make it count?
What is employee experience?
Employee experience is the intentional design and delivery of a high value, positive experience throughout the entire employment lifecycle.
Done well, EX can create a deep sense of belonging while driving performance and business outcomes.
Employee experience is personal. Every employee will experience a tenure at your organisation uniquely. As a leader, it’s your job to build strong relationships, communicate openly, and seek feedback often.
Why does it matter?
When employees feel valued and believe in the work they’re doing, they’re more likely to go the extra mile for your organisation and stay longer, reducing turnover.
By building a positive employee experience, you can help your team feel confident and enthusiastic, driving increased productivity and better professional performance.
Studies show that a great employee experience can lead to better business outcomes. Organisations who navigate employee experience well can achieve a 25 percent increase in productivity and a 50 percent increase in innovation.
But that’s not all.
A positive employee experience is the heart of your employer brand, which is your competitive advantage in a challenging hiring market.
Only 9 percent of leaders believe they are ready to tackle employee experience challenges. If you’re ready to dive in, you can get ahead of the game.
Employee experience and your employer brand
Your employee experience is closely linked to your employer brand.
Even when you’re not actively recruiting, you’re building brand power that communicates your organisation’s values and offerings. You’re marketing your brand as an employer, helping prospective future employees see what your organisation can do for them.
Talent attraction and retention begins with employee experience. With a positive work culture, growth opportunities, meaningful work that makes an impact and offers options for personalisation, you’ll be a great place to work and a talent magnet.
How to improve employee experience
Want to improve employee experience and make a difference to your people. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Ask for feedback
Your employees are in the driver’s seat, so let them guide your understanding of the employee experience. Seek regular feedback from your team. Listen to people’s insight. Be willing to make changes that improve your EX.
Provide autonomy
Help your employees take control of their work and responsibilities. Give your people the space to make decisions and choose their impact, using skills and working on interesting, engaging tasks.
Support collaboration
Encourage your employees to collaborate on projects. Provide positive communications tools that help employees work as a team, bringing new ideas to the table and respecting each other's unique skills and contributions.
Offer opportunities
Give your talent room to grow. Provide internal career development opportunities that allow employees to take the next step as part of your organisation, and offer plenty of learning resources to help along the way. According to Forbes, employees should spend up to 20% of their time on learning and development.
Prioritise health and balance
Make balance a priority at your workplace. Help your talent work well by allowing space for their personal lives. Check in with your team to make sure that projects are running smoothly and that employees are keeping well, even during stressful periods.
Personalise experience
Treat your employees as individuals. Personalise the experience and benefits you offer for the people they serve. Be willing to offer flexible work options that allow for equity and inclusion across your professional team.
Let your values drive
Know your organisation’s values, and use them to guide decisions and communication every day. Be committed to ethical leadership and socially responsible practices. Base your organisation’s culture on respect and recognition, and role model the engagement you want to see from your team.
How to evaluate employee experience
Want to evaluate your current employee experience? Talk to your team, and get feedback on the experience your organisation provides. Focus on these key indicators.
Employee engagement
How engaged are your employees in your organisation and its goals? According to Gallup, 15% of employees are disengaged. Find out whether your employees feel valued and accomplished in the workplace, and look for opportunities to promote engagement.
Wellbeing at work
Do your employees feel their personal wellbeing is prioritised and supported? Find out whether your employees have a good work-life balance. Look for signs of energy, enthusiasm, and strong professional relationships.
Inclusion policies
Is your organisation as inclusive as it could be? 67% of job seekers see diversity as an important consideration. Determine whether you have effective policies in place, and evaluate whether team equity is apparent in your day-to-day operations. Look for signs of authenticity and diversity in the workplace.
Length of tenure
How long do employees usually stay at your organisation? What made them stay? Why did they choose to leave?
What next?
To really understand employee experience and engagement, you’ll need more than an employee survey.
Many employers and leaders find it useful to seek support and an external, unbiased perspective to help understand employee experience and build employer brand.
Learn more about how Heart can help you engage, retain, attract, and delight your people here.