12 Ways to Improve Employee Connection in Your Workplace

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There are so many competing demands that organizations must juggle nowadays. From building a strong social media presence to keeping up with continuous technological advances, it’s easy to understand how some of the finer nuances of running a business end up falling by the wayside.Plus, many companies have a more dispersed workforce than ever before, with many people working remotely, sometimes miles or even oceans apart. This is why improving employee connection has become an ever greater priority for businesses as they look to achieve greater cohesion and collaboration in their workforce. What is employee connection in the workplace?Employee connection seeks to go further than traditional ideas of a workplace setting and actively nurture a sense of belonging and shared purpose. The goal is to improve all those things that create a great working atmosphere, such as communication, collaboration, and employee satisfaction.It’s a workplace environment where new ideas are allowed to thrive, whether that’s suggestions for the next conference swag, thoughts on the latest call center industry trends, or proposals for a new product line. A connected team is one where everyone feels valued and committed to the same overarching goals. 

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Why Employee Connection Matters

Let’s break down the reasons why employee connection makes a difference to both a business and its employees. 

• Boosted productivity: Employees who feel connected to both each other and the organization as a whole will naturally feel more motivated. They’re able to contribute their best work, meaning big productivity gains. 

• Increased collaboration: When connection is good among individuals and teams, collaboration happens more naturally. It becomes easier for employees to share ideas, give feedback, and work together toward common goals. 

• Improved employee retention: High employee turnover is expensive for businesses. However, the increase in job satisfaction that comes from connection means staff are more likely to stay with an organization in the long run. 

• Adaptability to change: An agile workforce is integral to the success of a business in a competitive marketplace. When a team feels a strong sense of connection to the business and their colleagues, they’re more ready to embrace change.

• Customer satisfaction: The benefits of connection aren’t only felt by the business and its workforce but also by its customers. Engaged and happy employees are better placed to deliver outstanding service to clients and customers. 

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1. Granting autonomy and decision-making freedom

Show faith in your team. Delegating tasks and then micromanaging them at every stage is not the way to strong employee connections. Give them the freedom to take ownership of their role, make their own choices, and make mistakes. Demonstrating this trust allows employees to develop decision-making confidence, safe in the knowledge that they’re supported in their efforts by management. This allows them to feel the significance of their contributions to the company's goals, and it’s a key aspect of growing a connected workforce. 

2. Recognizing and appreciating contributions

Making the effort to formally recognize achievements can go a long way to strengthening employee connections. This recognition can take many forms, whether it’s a public acknowledgment, monetary reward, or giving out a swag pack on a special employee appreciation day. It’s a good idea to have a structured reward system as a motivation for employees and to make sure no contribution or milestone ever gets missed. In doing so, you’re creating a culture that celebrates individual accomplishments and reinforces a collective sense of achievement among the team. 

3. Equipping your team with fun swag

Connecting employees to each other and your company should be fun. While some uniforms can make employees feel stifled, branded apparel, accessories, and other products can give them a sense of being part of a team.Swag can take many forms. Branded pens, coffee mugs, journals, and stickers are all quick and affordable options. These make particularly great bundles for welcoming new hires onto your team to make them feel valued from day one.But think outside of the box to foster deeper connections with employees. Swag isn’t just about convincing your team to wear branded hoodies to your next conference so you get free publicity. It’s about creating a sense of unity and inclusion, celebrating their individuality and the company’s accomplishments.With that in mind, select your swag carefully and align products with your brand values and their unique interests. Some great ideas include Pride totes, sustainable water bottles, pet toys, sports gear, and custom puzzles. You could even create custom swag to celebrate a new brand partnership or product launch.

4. Investing in employee skills and growth

Investing in employee skills and growth, including leveraging innovative technologies like media planning with AI, is crucial for fostering workplace connection. This not only enhances employees' technical competencies but also equips them with the tools to adapt to evolving marketing strategies, fostering a dynamic and interconnected workforce. Take, for example, corporate training programs, which provide a shared learning experience and equip employees with valuable skills. You can identify the type of training that would most benefit individuals by asking them to write an employee self-evaluation or by conducting skills assessments. They can then be provided with the best opportunities to learn alongside other team members, planting the seeds for a more connected and knowledgeable workforce. 

5. The role of active listening

To understand your employees better and make sure they feel truly heard, you should employ active listening. The purpose of active listening is to enter into every conversation with a genuine desire to hear one another’s perspective. This is something that all employees should be encouraged to do, particularly those in leadership positions. It’s an approach that clearly demonstrates to workers that their opinions matter and that a variety of perspectives are welcomed. Additionally, consider utilizing mediums like sales videos as part of your communication strategy. These videos can effectively convey information, engage employees, and foster a sense of connection by providing visual and auditory cues in a dynamic format.

6. Establishing open communication channels

Although good communication is essential for any business to thrive, communication channels can often be fragmented or unclear. Suppose an employee has a question about their pay. Who do they contact, and how? Is there a general email for payroll, or do they contact an individual staff member? What if that person is on leave?In this particular instance, a system like Paylocity centralizes HR and payroll communications so their questions about pay can be swiftly answered. This is just one example, but maintaining open and clear avenues across the organization for questions, feedback, and suggestions cultivates transparency and trust in the workplace.

7. Team collaboration beyond silos

A culture of mutual support promotes camaraderie. Say, for instance, an IT department introduces the advantages of monolithic architecture, a seamless and integrated system, to the marketing team. This collaboration not only benefits the IT team directly involved but also enriches the marketing team with efficient data sharing and optimized processes.Encouraging employees to assist one another not only strengthens bonds but also contributes to a positive and supportive work environment. Breaking down silos and promoting a collaborative culture creates a workplace where the collective success of the team is prioritized over individual achievements.  

8. Encouraging a balanced approach 

The glamorization of overworking is being left in the past as businesses recognize the importance of a healthy work-life balance for all team members. This means that employees’ working hours and time off should always be respected.Taking a balanced approach to life and work has a positive impact on mental health. You can promote this by providing flexible work options and encouraging paid time off. Prioritizing employees' mental health and a good work-life balance signals to employees that the company cares about them.

9. Team-bonding activities

No matter how demanding the work environment is, everybody needs to have a little fun. Team-building events are the perfect opportunity for employees to let off a bit of steam while connecting through a shared experience. Taking employees out of their usual work setting and placing them in a more relaxed environment allows them to interact in a different way. What’s more, it’s often a welcome break from the daily grind, creating a positive experience that does wonders for employee connection. 

10. Prioritizing employee wellness

Along with mental health support, other aspects of employee wellbeing should be prioritized when looking to improve connection. Mindfulness sessions, free or discounted gym membership, and on-site fitness classes are just a few ideas that can make a positive contribution to employee wellbeing. You can also look at adjustments that are more directly related to their job roles. Ergonomic workstations can greatly improve employee comfort during long days sitting at a desk. Additionally, tools like AI call center software can reduce the pressure on customer-facing teams, reducing the risk of burnout.

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11. Inclusion strategies for diversity

Employee connection cannot thrive without inclusivity. A workplace culture must value diversity and respect every team member, irrespective of their background or identity. Instituting policies that actively promote diversity sends a powerful message about the organization's commitment to creating a harmonious workplace. What’s more, championing diversity also improves connections and collaboration among a team with diverse skills and experiences. Inclusivity strengthens professional bonds but also contributes to a positive and vibrant workplace culture.

12. Progress monitoring and refinement

Decide which metrics you will use to monitor the progress of your employee engagement and connection efforts. Examples of these might be participation rates in team activities or feedback from collaborative projects, which will give you insight into the overall health of connection in your workplace. Let your employees voice their opinions through regular assessments and surveys, focusing on discovering areas of success and identifying potential improvements. The data you collect will be valuable as you adapt your strategies going forward. This commitment to continuous improvement will keep your employee connection initiatives relevant and dynamic.Start improving employee connection todayThough a workforce may not always be physically in the same room anymore, the need for employee connection remains just as important for a productive work environment. An engaged team is one where communication flows freely, which results in an increase in collaboration. From team-building activities to professional development, the tactics above can set you on the road to greatly improved employee connection–and you should not underestimate the influence that employee wellbeing and happiness can have. Though there may often appear to be more pressing priorities involved in running a business, employee connection should not be neglected. It’s these invisible ties that allow a company to operate at its full potential, working as a cohesive unit to grow and succeed together. 

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