All employees deserve to feel fulfilled, appreciated and engaged in their jobs. Nurturing employee engagement is an important part of running any pediatric practice; when done correctly, it benefits your staff and your practice families. Leaders who let this responsibility fall to the wayside will quickly find that it impacts not just employee satisfaction and retainment, but also the success of the practice and the quality of care that patients receive.

It’s never too late (or too early) to focus on employee engagement. 

On a recent OP podcast, Alisa Vaughn, Senior VP of Operations at Office Practicum, spoke about the significance of this critical KPI (Key People Indicator) and shared some tips for strengthening the emotional connection between pediatric staff members and company leaders.

What is Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement is about so much more than basic job satisfaction. At its essence, employee engagement refers to the strength of the emotional connection between employees and:

• Their colleagues
• Their leaders
• The company itself

When we talk about employee engagement, it’s important to note that engaged employees don’t always equate to those that are satisfied. An employee can have perfectly adequate job satisfaction, but if they are disengaged, they are more likely to start looking for a position elsewhere.

It can be challenging for practice leaders to understand when employees are engaged, and what they can do to help create stronger engagement. Ultimately, the best way for leaders to evaluate and strengthen employee engagement is to talk to their staff. 

Some great questions to ask include: 

• How can I make you feel more engaged? 
• What makes you feel cared for at work? 
• What’s the best way to communicate with you? 

This conversation can take various forms, ranging from an online survey to an in-person, one-on-one meeting. Regardless of format, this conversation should help the employee share how they wanted to be engaged, cared for, and appreciated by company leadership. Personalizing the way you communicate with employees makes it easier to help them feel engaged in your business on their own terms.

Why is Employee Engagement So Important?

Active engagement with your staff is critically important because it’s a key method for leaders to recognize the climate and culture of their workforce. Developing a better understanding of the mood and feelings of the people within your organization is central to helping drive your business forward.

There’s no better time to start paying more attention to employee engagement. With many practices losing staff due to burnout, increased stress, the Great Resignation, and changes in priorities, this is an ideal time to lay the groundwork for a personalized approach to employee engagement. 

Just be aware, your staff will recognize a shortsighted approach and will likely become resentful if you start caring only when it is too late. After all, if you are unwilling to take care of your staff, someone else will — happily.

Learning more about employee engagement is the first step in building a system that makes every team member feel valued. To hear more about this idea from one of our experts, check out our “Employee Engagement and Retention” podcast.