According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace: 2010-2012 report, only 30% of American workers were engaged and committed to their workplace. The remaining 70% are showing up to work not committed to delivering their best performance.
Why is this a concern? Disengaged employees may actually be working against their employers’ interests. They are less productive, more likely to steal, negatively influence their coworkers, miss workdays and drive customers away.
There is a cost to this lack of engagement. It has implications for the bottom line of individual companies and the US economy as a whole. Gallup estimates that actively disengaged employees cost the U.S. $450 billion to $550 billion in lost productivity per year.
Integrity Solutions clients say we have important tools to increase employee engagement, starting with a Behavioral Styles Assessment and moving into Integrity Selling, Integrity Coaching and Integrity Service.
Some of the Gallup suggestions resonate with our approach to sales training.
- Measure employee engagement.
- Show employees how they are making a difference in their environment.
- Help managers understand their unique talents.
- Coach managers and hold them accountable.
- Define goals in realistic, everyday terms.
- Find ways to connect with each employee.
Extract from Integrity Solutions Newsletter March 2014