How To Improve Employee Connection

In a world where many companies have shifted to hybrid work or are leaning more toward in-person work, companies must focus on helping their employees feel connected. According to Eagle Hill Consulting, 48 percent of workers say connection to their work impacts their decision to stay or leave their job. Without employee connection, you could have a lot of turnover. Organizations can improve employee experience and reduce turnover by embracing the idea of employee connection.

What is Employee Connection?

Employee connection refers to the sense of belonging that an employee feels within the company. An employee may feel a connection based on support from the company or management, level of engagement, relationships with co-workers, and even the feeling of alignment with the company’s values.

How Does Employee Connection Impact an Organization?

Employee connection can affect everyone in the company in many ways, for better or worse, depending on how much the company focuses on fostering it. Employee connection (or lack there of) can contribute to many factors at work, from employee engagement to individual wellbeing.

Employee Engagement and Satisfaction

Employee connection can influence engagement negatively or positively, depending on how the company handles it. For example, when employees feel a sense of belonging within the company, they are more likely to be engaged with their work. Additionally, employee connection can affect the employee’s emotional commitment. If the employee feels connected emotionally, they feel invested in the company’s success and are willing to go above and beyond their job description.

Retention and Turnover Rates

Engaged employees who feel connected to their company, peers, and management are less likely to leave the company and are more loyal to their roles. Connected employees feel engaged and satisfied while completing their assigned tasks.

Team Collaboration and Communication 

Employee connection can significantly affect team dynamics. If a company does not support effective employee connection, team dynamics will suffer because (newsflash) people want to work with people they like and respect. If a company can foster employee connection, teams can collaborate effectively, including across departments. This effective collaboration can lead to better decision-making, innovation, and problem-solving.

Organizational Culture

Employee connection can contribute to shaping an organization’s culture. When a company fosters employee connection and provides opportunities for employees to connect, it can lead to a positive and supportive culture that enhances morale, encourages teamwork, and attracts talent.

Customer Satisfaction

Employee connection also can improve customer outcomes. Employees who feel connected to their company and peers are more likely to deliver top-tier customer service. In turn, satisfied customers will contribute to the organization’s reputation and financial success.

Well-Being and Mental Health

Strong, positive connections at work can positively impact employee’s overall well-being. A supportive work environment that fosters connection and employee satisfaction can reduce stress and contribute to a healthier work-life balance. 

Innovation

Connected and engaged employees are more likely to share ideas and collaborate on innovative solutions. Companies that foster this positive connection between employees, management, and leadership can expect to see an increased drive for creativity and an improved culture of improvement within the organization.

How Does Employee Connection Improve The Workplace?

When companies focus on building strong employee connections, they can expect to see many improvements. Employee connection is strongly linked to employee engagement and wellness. In turn, increased employee engagement reduces turnover and can even increase revenue. Additionally, when healthy employee connections are present, companies can expect better teamwork, higher retention, improved communication, and increased productivity.

How Do Companies Improve Employee Connection? 

It is possible for a company’s sense of connection to grow organically. However, that takes time and doesn’t guarantee results. To ensure your organization fosters a healthy sense of connection, try these specific strategies.

Host Team Building Activities 

Companies can improve employee connection by hosting regular team-building activities. These activities do not have to be expensive to be effective. And don’t limit yourself to times when you are in-person! Remote teams can also benefit from team-building activities. Here are a few ideas to get your company started: 

• Problem Solving Challenges: Teams must work together to complete a task or solve a problem. This could be an escape room, a scavenger hunt, or even a board game night.
• Trust Building Exercises: Activities that focus on developing trust among team members. Some examples are blindfolded activities, amazing race games, and ropes courses.
• Volunteering or Community Service: Helps the community and strengthens bonds between team members and the community. 

It is important to note that one of the best ways to instill trust and foster connection among team members is to foster open communication. No amount of team-building activities can compensate for poor communication among employees, peers, and management.

Focus On Company Culture 

Companies can improve their employee connection by focusing on building a strong company culture. Fostering a positive and productive company culture starts with quality leadership, establishing core values, setting goals, and involving teams and employees in decision making. Maintain a strong company culture through careful hiring, open communication, team-building activities, and workplace appreciation. 

Ask For Employee Feedback 

Companies that truly want to connect with their employees should ask for employee feedback regularly. Employee feedback is the process of sharing information with employees and having employees share their feedback with management. This includes having management ask for feedback during quarterly check-ins, focusing on employees over process, and conducting regular employee engagement surveys.

Enhance The Onboarding Process

Effective onboarding can truly impact employee connection from day 1. Onboarding is the process of bringing in new hires and helping them integrate into the organization. Effective onboarding is essential because it not only gets new hires off to a strong start, but also motivates the employees around the new hire. A strong onboarding process can create connections between employees from the start, and strengthen those on the existing team.

Support Employee Well-being 

Companies can foster connection through employee well-being. For example, an organization can create a supportive environment that supports employees’ well-being, including mental health training and providing opportunities for wellness activities. Wellness activities could consist of the following: 

• Physical well-being activities: Yoga, an annual 5k, a “step” challenge (encouraging employees to get a certain number of steps in), and providing a gym membership stipend. 
• Mental well-being activities: Guided meditation, encouraging laughter in the workplace, and sending out motivational or encouraging messages.

Recognize and Appreciate Employees 

Companies that recognize employees and show appreciation often can expect improvement in employee connection. Fostering company-wide appreciation makes a huge difference in the employee experience overall. When companies create a culture of appreciation, overall morale improves, loyalty is enhanced, and team dynamics improve. All of these are critical components of employee connection.

Foster Open Communication 

Communication plays a huge role in employee connection. It is crucial in creating a positive and productive work environment. Companies can foster open communication through the following: 

• Provide opportunities for feedback. Allow employees to provide their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns through regular surveys, suggestion boxes, or open-door policies with management. 
• Encourage transparent communication. Be transparent with company goals, strategies, and decisions. Transparency builds trust and encourages connection. 
• Celebrate successes and learn from failures. Recognize and celebrate achievements as a team and company. Similarly, don’t sweep failures under the rug; learn from the mistakes. 
• Establish clear communication policies. Outlining communication protocols and expectations within the company helps foster a healthy sense of connection and communication. Communication guidelines can include email etiquette, meeting agendas, and expected response times. 

Why Does Employee Connection Matter?

Quite simply, connected employees are happier employees. Additionally, connected employees are less burnt out, more engaged, and more innovative. To improve employee connection, organizations should focus on fostering healthy and supportive relationships among employees (including peer-to-peer and top-down relationships). 

Human resources and people leaders play a significant role in enhancing employee connection within a company. Not only can HR facilitate open communication, but they are also pivotal in creating comprehensive onboarding programs. Additionally, HR helps facilitate effective communication about company values. All of these factors can help improve employee connection at your organization.