The crucial importance of employee engagement

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance the view that having employees who are thoroughly motivated and truly engaged is the most powerful competitive weapon an organization can enjoy, and to offer advice on how to achieve this condition.

Findings

The paper highlights the importance of 14 non‐financial ways of engaging the employee, and offers a ten‐point plan for achieving them.

Practical implications

The paper shows that engaging talented people needs to be a top organizational priority because they are by definition precious possessions who are particularly likely to find another job if they do not feel that their current one is giving them satisfaction, purpose and sense of self‐worth.

Originality/value

The paper argues that companies are most likely to be successful when their employees provide large amounts of discretionary effort.

Citation

Woodruffe, C. (2006), "The crucial importance of employee engagement", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 3-5. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730610643891