First, the Great Resignation made headlines. Now everyone’s talking about “quiet quitting,” or silently ceasing all efforts to go above and beyond your job description. In any case, it’s clear that many people aren’t satisfied with their jobs these days.
Quiet quitters – defined as those who are neither engaged nor actively disengaged – account for at least 50 percent of the American workforce, according to the Gallup article “Is Quiet Quitting Real?”
Meanwhile, only 32 percent qualify as engaged workers, and 18 percent are actively disengaged. On top of that, enthusiasm for work is declining: In 2021, Gallup reported a decrease in the number of engaged employees in the U.S. for the first time in a decade. The percentage of U.S. workers involved in and excited about their work slipped from 36 percent in 2020 to 34 percent last year and has continued to shrink this year.
For business leaders looking to inspire greater gusto in the workplace, Gallup recommends “reskilling” managers in accordance with new hybrid and remote work arrangements. Managers can then talk to their direct reports about what the company can do to fight burnout and stop staff members from tuning out on an individual basis. It’s also vital for the leadership team to maintain clear communication with the rest of the team and ensure employees have access to all the resources needed to fulfill their professional obligations.
If you’re looking for ways to revive your team’s engagement level, specific IT solutions can make a significant difference by streamlining communication, enabling collaboration from anywhere, defining goals, and more.
Here are a few types of technology to consider implementing to keep your staff members interested and involved in their work.
1. Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS).
UCaaS platforms, or cloud phone systems, have become incredibly popular due to their accessibility for remote and on-the-go end users. Migrating from an on-premises phone system to UCaaS software can boost employee engagement by making flexible work arrangements possible and removing barriers to effective communication. In other words, your team members can connect and collaborate with colleagues and managers from anywhere.
For more info on shopping for a UCaaS solution, check out our previous blog entry, “Choosing the Right Unified Communications as a Service Platform: Top 10 Features to Consider.”
2. Performance-tracking software.
Another way to improve the employee experience and inspire your staff members to care more about their work is to show them how their assignments and projects align with your organization’s overall goals (i.e., giving them a greater sense of purpose). Performance monitoring software can clarify the link between your employees’ daily tasks and your company’s high-level objectives.
For instance, at Stratosphere, we utilize a platform that allows end users to define objectives and key results (OKRs) and track their progress. You can also align individual and departmental objectives and key results with organization-wide goals.
3. Survey tools.
The best way to figure out what your employees want and how to get them more engaged is to ask them. Surveying software serves as a convenient way to craft and administer employee feedback surveys, which you should aim to do at least once per year. For example, we create and send out staff surveys via Wufoo, an online form builder.
4. Reliable IT support.
If your employees deal with constant downtime and unresponsive IT support, they probably won’t feel very engaged at work. We’ve even heard of people changing jobs due to unreliable applications and poor support service. Working with a best-in-class managed IT service provider can help you keep your team members involved by providing them with high-quality tools via a virtual CIO (including CRM software to keep clients and, by extension, employees happy) and dependable tech support.
If you’d like to learn more about leveraging technology to achieve your business goals, our trusted advisors can assist you. Our team has extensive experience working with various technologies like UCaaS and can construct an IT roadmap based on your needs that paves the way for long-term success.
Start exploring our advisory process today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
