3 Ways A Lean Approach Drives Employee Engagement

Running a business successfully is not just about acquiring customers and making them stay for the long haul. It is also about building a loyal and satisfied team. Companies aspire for employee engagement because it is the first step towards loyalty and satisfaction. Further, it boosts long-term retention, which is another significant concern for businesses. Not surprisingly, companies of all sizes are investing in employee engagement activities. The idea is to make them feel connected with initiatives like training, gamification, surveys, and feedback. But you can think beyond the basics by taking a lean approach. Here are some ways it drives employee engagement.

Creates a sense of meaning

Creating a sense of meaning for your employees is an effective way to engage them. As workplaces move towards automation, people often lose a sense of purpose in their job roles. The mindset can lower their morale and motivation levels eventually, and your business can take a hit. The best solution to this problem is to create a positive environment. Employees must know the value they contribute to the end customers. Further, they should have a fair idea of the ways to eliminate wasteful activities and increase their productivity. Lean six sigma training covers them on both these fronts, and they end up being more engaged, productive, and happy. 

Enhances team collaboration

Strong team collaboration is another key driver of employee engagement. People who collaborate and work together as a team are better able to deliver and contribute to the business. A Six Sigma Certification for your employees goes a long way in facilitating better communication and collaboration. These employees are capable of working as a cohesive unit. They are willing to adopt a culture of shared leadership with a lean approach. The lean approach also teaches them ways to express their original ideas and initiate their own actions. So you build a team of proactive employees eventually. These are the people who add value to your organisation and take it closer to the profit goals. 

Visualises the work process collectively

Traditionally, project managers set up specific processes and hand them over to the team members. But it isn’t the best way to work because people cannot provide their expertise fully to projects. They feel disengaged and lose out on productivity and performance. The lean principle of value stream mapping offers a better approach to work process management. With this approach, team leaders understand every process but visualise them as a whole. They let the team members manage the daily tasks with more freedom and flexibility.  Employees can give their unique touch to the work process. It brings dual benefits to the organisation. Firstly, it enhances employee engagement because they get the opportunity to speak up. Additionally, the company benefits from the expertise of people. 

The success of an organisation hinges on the people they have on board. Ensuring that these employees are engaged and happy can make all the difference. Lean management principles take you a long way with employee engagement, so you must embrace them sooner rather than later.