Your employees are the backbone of your business and without them, your business simply wouldn’t function. As a business, you need staff that you can rely on and staff who will get their jobs done, but we now live in a world where employee commitment is crucial. If an employee is not committed then that can have significant implications on your business and other members of staff as well as productivity.

Despite this, you can build employee commitment but it is something that you have to constantly work at, but get it right and you will reap the rewards, so how do you do it?

Communication is Key

It is common for employees to feel isolated or nothing more than just a number. This means that they become disconnected from colleagues, their role and your business. This can have an impact on morale and that can tear through your business and have a negative impact. Communication is an important aspect of the workplace and keeping staff committed is about keeping in touch. 

Whether they are working on the cash till using a system from XEPOS or they are operating machines in a factory, they want to feel valued. If managers spend more time checking in on them and providing them with news or feedback then that will keep them connected. It’s a simple tool but communication is something that is lacking in the workplace. Keeping employees in the loop is part of making them feel as though they are part of something more because someone who feels valued will feel more committed to doing their job properly.

Consider Their Wellbeing

The wellbeing of employees has been the main focus for many years but their overall wellbeing can play a part in whether they are committed or not. Their wellbeing is not just impacted by their personal life but also their work life. Maybe they are working long hours, coping with high workloads or are having to deal with awkward colleagues. Maybe they come in when they are unwell when they should be at home? Whatever it might be, if their wellbeing is not right then it is going to impact your business so it is within your interests to do everything you can to help them.

You can promote healthy eating, encourage them to take breaks and make sure they take time off when they need it. Low engagement means a lack of commitment and that can leave your business struggling. It doesn’t matter whether it is a high-powered environment or someone who works on a cash till register all day. Their wellbeing is crucial because failing to help with it can lead to further problems in the future.

Career Development

Some people are happy to stay in the same job and there is nothing wrong with that but there are those who are ambitious and expect your business to match those ambitions. As an employer, you should be engaging with your staff about how they feel things are progressing and where they would like to develop. While you might see it as a conversation that could cause them to realise their ambitions by moving elsewhere it is likely that they will move elsewhere if you do not have a conversation with them regularly. It can help to identify tasks and projects they have worked on and how that might help them to possibly progress into a new position with the company. It’s a conversation that will make them feel as though you are considering their development and see it as an important part of your business in the future. While you cannot guarantee career progression, you can help them get there, even if it might be with another employer in the future. However, what you need is for it to be done in a way that ensures they remain as committed as possible while they are working for you.

Recognise Their Efforts

In many instances, it is enough to praise staff for their efforts in person to keep them committed. After all, if a manager says they are impressed with the performance of an individual they are going to feel recognised but there is more to it than that. Sometimes you have to take a different approach to recognise their efforts and this can be achieved with benefits packages or rewards. You could have a reward system whereby staff are giving meal vouchers or shopping vouchers should they hit a certain target. There are many different options to take advantage of here but they can all make a difference in the way that staff feel when they are at work. If you can turn it into a positive experience and one where they are rewarded then they are naturally going to be more committed.

Encourage Discussions

Everyone has a voice, even if they might be someone who is quiet most of the time. Giving people the chance to discuss their feelings, their ideas and any other issues that they might be facing is a great way of driving commitment. Team meetings serve a purpose in this case and they provide teams with the chance to discuss projects, tasks and what could be done better. This is an opportunity to discuss things that are not always work-related such as birthdays, work get-togethers out of hours and more. Staff will feel connected and feel as though they have an opportunity to explore their feelings more.

Team Building Exercises

Team building exercises are now a part of the modern workplace but they are a great way of getting people out of the workplace to explore something different with colleagues. Arrange for a day of paintballing, cooking classes or even a unique workshop. The aim should be to make it fun and engaging and your staff will come away from it feeling engaged and committed.

The workplace is a challenging environment for employees but if businesses want to retain the best talent, it’s imperative that they keep them committed and working towards the main goal of the business.