Everybody talks about Employee Engagement - can anybody define it?

There are many definitions of Engagement, some more academic than others but one of the simplest was made by David McLeod in his report to the British Government of the state of engagement in the UK: 

“You know it when you see it”

It would be very easy to accept the term “Employee Engagement” as a more modern or advanced description of Employee Satisfaction – a term we all understand. This assumption makes most people misunderstand the concept and power engaging people.

The CAB model highlights some of the key differences between Employee Satisfaction and Employee Engagement:

Where Employee Satisfaction is a rational state that is based on what the employee deliver in terms of work compared to the benefits received, Employee Engagement represents an emotional relationship. This relationship is not only to the company itself, it extends to all the company’s stakeholders and to the company’s purpose.

This also reveals that Engagement is not only about the exchange between the company and the employee but also about other exchanges between the company and its stakeholders – exchanges that does not directly impact the employee.

As Engagement is a complex relationship it challenges the traditional industrial HR view of the world. It is not viable to identify humans that “have engagement” therefore it is not possible to hire and fire your way to Engagement – you have to create it. You have to change from selecting and changing the employee to fit the corporation to change the corporation to fit humans.

Gallup that regularly surveys the state of engagement worldwide defines engagement as different emotional states employees are in.

They highlight that not only is Engagement and opportunity, it also represents a threat as disengaged employees are working to sabotage the organisation.

The Institute of employment studies has a definition that highlights it is not only about what you do, but also how you do it:

“A positive attitude held by the employee towards the organisation and its values. An engaged employee is aware of the business context, and works with colleagues to improve performance within the job for the benefit of the organisation. The organisation must work to develop and nurture engagement, which requires a two-way relationship between employee and employer.”

Engagement is strongly connected to motivation – especially intrinsic motivation like passion, purpose and personal growth. Extrinsic motivators like pay and working conditions can impact negatively but does not have a positive effect.

This also means that Employee Engagement can be seen as a hierarchy  – like the surgeon model to highlight the impact that Employee Engagement has on the subjects – be it customers, colleagues or patients.

What is needed to bring employees from Disengaged to Engaged is very different from what it takes to move them on to Actively Engaged.

This also highlights that the creation of Engagement is not a prescriptive process that can be standardised like most people processes. Engagement is a strategic process that depends on people’s current level of engagement, the company, the market situation – it has to be tailored.

The creation of Employee Engagement is extremely important as it impacts: Motivation, Company performance, Learning, Knowledge and Innovation.

Additional Definitions of Employee Engagement:

"Full discretionary effort and living up to their full potential and doing what it takes to help their organisation succeed." Towers Perrin

"Engagement is a positive fulfilling work related state of mind that is characterised by vigor, dedication and absorption." Schaufeli et al

"Engagement or passion for work involves feeling positive about your job as well as wanting to go the extra mile to make sure you do your job to the best of your ability." Truss et al

"The extent to which the employees commit to something or someone in their organisation, how hard they work and how long they stay as a result of that commitment." Corporate Leadership Council