7 compelling reasons to prioritize employee engagement

I hear this almost every single day when I consult with businesses. In fact, if I had a dollar for every CEO I’ve heard say this over the years, I could probably afford to retire.

But the truth is, when you look at how leaders actually manage and interact with these “valuable” employees of theirs, you feel just the opposite.

Indeed, many companies are merely paying lip service to employee engagement. Sure, it makes a nice sound bite, something leaders can say to try to motivate their staff. But what’s being done in practice is very different, because for many companies, it’s “profits first,” followed by customers and—last—employees.

Don’t believe me? Then explain why measures of employee engagement in the United States have been stuck at around 30 percent for many years.

Clearly, companies are engaged in short-sighted thinking. Here are seven benefits of focusing on your employees and their engagement that could help benefit your profits and your customers alike.

1. Better staff retention