Low cost, high impact 🚀

Hi everyone! 👋 

This is Mariam Mushtaq from HR Brain Pickings - bringing to you this week’s second edition. ✌️ 

Today, I am rolling up my sleeves to do some research for you on the topic of: engaging employees without breaking the bank. It seems like a tall order, right? Financial constraints often stand in the way of implementing employee engagement initiatives, but maybe they don’t always need to come with a hefty price tag? 💳️ 

No Budget = No Engagement? 😰 

Imagine you're leading a busy HR team or you’re a one-man team at your new workplace. The company's on an upward trajectory – energy is high and possibilities seem endless. 😁 

You've got a team that's eager to feel more connected and motivated, but… the budget is really tight, and your manager tells you to “get creative” or “think outside the box”. Sounds familiar? 😅 

As frustrating as it can be - let’s look at some solutions instead of dwelling on it. There are a handful of straightforward, and wallet-friendly moves we can make to boost employee motivation. 🚀

I mean, think about it—engagement doesn’t always require grand gestures or big bucks. It’s often the little things that count - like a well-timed "thank you" or a genuine "how are you?". 🥹 

Let’s explore some strategies that prove a tight budget doesn’t mean a tight lid on creativity or impact. 💼

1. Recognize Your Employees: 🌟 Simple gestures of appreciation can make a BIG impact.

• Example: Create a #gratitude channel on your communication platform dedicated to shout outs and thank yous.. “Cheers to Tom for exceptional customer feedback! 🎉”

2. Collaborate With Your Employees: 🛠️ Collaborating on goals and decision-making ensures everyone is heard and are on the same page, at no extra cost.

• Example: Ask employees for their thoughts on the new health insurance policy or for setting quarterly goals.

3. Practice LAF (Listen, Acknowledge, Follow-up): 👂 Being attentive to your team's feedback shows you care, effortlessly.

• Example: If an employee suggests a new efficiency tool, follow up with an action. “Great idea, Alex! Let’s test it in our next project. I’ll set up a trial account. 🔧”

4. Invest in Employee Growth: 🎨 Acknowledge unique skills to make everyone feel valued, which enhances team spirit.

• Example: If Jamie has a knack for graphic design, let her lead a design basics session. “Jamie will be sharing some cool design tips with us next week! 🖌️”

5. Informal Catch Ups: Creating moments for casual connection is key, especially in a remote or hybrid work environment. 💻️ 

• Example: Set up a recurring "Friday Coffee Hour" where team members are encouraged to join in to play virtual games or have an informal chat. 🔈️ 

6. Employee-led Initiatives: 💡 Empowering your team to drive their own projects and activities is another low-effort and low-cost way to boost engagement.

• Example: Encourage the creation of interest-based groups like a "Runners and Joggers Club" where employees who enjoy running can share tips, plan virtual runs, and discuss their favorite running gear. For something more formal, support the formation of an ERG focused on sustainability or DEIB initiatives. 👥 

7. Learning lunches: 🍱 Leveraging the lunch hour for informal yet informative sessions can be a fantastic way to merge learning with engagement. These "Brown Bag" sessions encourage sharing knowledge in a relaxed setting.

• Example: Host a monthly "Tech Talk" where team members or guest speakers share insights on the latest industry trends, useful software tools, or coding best practices. Employees can bring their lunch and learn something new, all within the comfort of their own workspace. 🥗 

Alright, we can wrap this up! 🎉 I really hope you've found these ideas helpful. 🤝 

Also - I strongly recommend planning your engagement activities in advance. 📆 To help you out, I've included a guide on creating an engagement calendar below. ⬇️ 

EngageWith Feature Highlight 💡

Implement LAF ((Listen, Acknowledge, Follow-up) using Feedback on EngageWith. 🙌 

What’s more? The tool directly integrates with Slack / MS Teams so you won’t need to keep switching tabs between different tools. 😌 

Unsure of whether this is the right choice? Talk to an expert from the EngageWith team!

Bonus Resource: Engagement Calendar + Activities 🗓️ 

If you are struggling with managing engagement activities for your employees - this calendar is for you! 🫵 Use this calendar as reference to get started with events and activities that resonate with your work culture and stay on top of your game. 💪 

You will find steps to get started and a 2024 engagement calendar for both India and US locations. 🙌 

What’s going on at The Shape of Work? 🌟 

Here's a list of all the upcoming TSOW Community Calls:

1️⃣ April 4th: Performance Management Insights with Nathan Cohen of Endeavor

2️⃣ April 5th: Ways to Empower Our Community through Shared Job Opportunities, Referrals, and Support

3️⃣ April 10th: Recruiting with Precision: Harnessing Data for Targeted Hiring

Join TSOW and register for our exciting lineup of events 🎉, all free for you as a TSOW member!

Today’s Reads

• Tuition reimbursements 💰️ for students - “The program is available through InStride. As part of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System’s talent acquisition and retention efforts, employees are eligible to participate in the program after 90 days.” The recent trend among healthcare organizations is to offer certain benefits to improve retention and TA efforts.

• Ever conducted a “Listening Tour” at work? 👂️ HRs can take on this initiative to encourage managers and leaders to go on a listening tour to listen to employee concerns and feedback. Read more.

• Read what Josh Bersin has to say about what we can learn from The World Happiness Report in relation to work. 📑 

Missed the last newsletter? Catch up here.

Join the Conversation! ⬇️ 

Have you cracked the code on engaging employees on a budget? Share your wins, your learning moments, or even those "back to the drawing board" stories. ✍️ Here are some questions for reflection:

• Which of these low-cost engagement strategies could work in your organization?

• Is there a unique, cost-effective engagement idea you’ve been itching to try but are unsure of how to start?

Share your insights and get featured in the next issue! 👤