How to Be a More Engaged Employee

How to Be a More Engaged EmployeeHow to Be a More Engaged Employee The struggle is real, folks. Employee engagement is on the decline, and its something every employer - and employee - needs to take seriously. According to Office Vibes Global & Real-Time State of Employee Engagement The statistics dont lie many employees are not engaged. But its not just on employers - I firmly believe that employee engagement is a two-way street.Employers should be engaging with their employees to build meaningful relationships - at my company , we send out bi-weekly pulse surveys to gain regular feedback from our employees - but employees should also show some initiative to become a mora engaged employee. Because odds are, becoming engagedwill make yourday-to-day life at the office a whole lot more enjoyable. It might even boost your work performanceHaving personally read through hundreds of comments submitted by employees, Ive found myself providing some of the same tips and a dvice over and over again. Below are my suggestions on how to become a more engaged employee.How is a company supposed to fix a problem they arent aware exists? If your company is investing in surveys and feedback tools, the least you can do is engage and provide your thoughts and feedback. And if your organization does not have these tools, request themTransparency is expected in most organizations today. Let your employer know you dont understand a certain policy or dont agree with something. If you have a great suggestion, then share it It doesnt necessarily mean your new idea will be implemented, but at least you can have your voice heard and be a trusted source of feedback for your employer.If you dont speak up now, its hard to complain later. Just remember, feedback is nothing without honesty - thats what your employer is asking forQuestion your employer. Not in a rude or gotcha fashion, but ask tough questions. Ive found that when an employee asks a question, and I can prov ide context as to why a decision was made, it benefits all parties involved. Not only do you get your answers, but you show your employer that youre invested in the company.Set-up a regular meeting cadence with your manager - you can ask questions, talk about your performance and set career goals . These meetings dont have to be long, but dedicating time from you and your managers calendar shows how important this meeting is to your success.You hear a lot today about employer branding (defined as a companys ability to differentiate and promote its identity to a defined group of candidates that theyre interested in hiring). HR writer, speaker and advisor William Tincup simply states employer branding is your unique scent.Theres no one better to help share your companys message than you - an employee of the company. Studies show time and time again that employees are viewed as more trustworthy than CEOs and/or absatzwirtschaft departments, and recommendations from friends and family always rank near the top with respect to trusted referral sources.When your employer publishes a great blog post, share it with your network. At the next company event, take some fun photos and post them using the companys branded hashtag. Being an employment brand ambassador will show employers you care about the company, and not just yourself.To give is better than to receive. Whether youre talking about presents or philanthropy, this statement always rings true. Many companies are fully on board with social responsibility and giving back to the communities where their employees live, work and play.If your organization sponsors and/or volunteers at these events, do yourself a favor and be present. Sometimes these charitable events are after hours or are on the weekends and not necessarily convenient. However, your attendance will not only impress your employer, but more often than not, will also enrich your life in more ways than one.No one person, or even team, is respons ible for employee engagement. Every employee at an organization adds to or takes away from the company culture. We spend a tremendous portion of our waking hours at work - why not be engaged while youre there?Chris Skaggs is the head of talent and brand at TSP , a privately-held IT services company, and co-founder and president of Leightons Gift , a non-profit with a mission of turning a tragedy into something positive. Branding, digital marketing, talent acquisition and HR are all functions Chris has developed building teams, processes and strategies from the ground-up. Passionate about giving back, he also serves on the boards of a variety of different organizations. A natural storyteller, Chris work and experiences have been featured on CNN, Marketing Sherpa, CBS Radio, Recruiter.com and Glassdoor. Get connected online, skaggschrisL.