Only 23% of employees are engaged at work, with up to 15% actively disengaged. This low engagement is even worse for younger generations, and results in an estimated $8.9 trillion loss in global GDP every year. What are some of the ways top organizational leaders are able to increase staff engagement and up employee morale?
Dr. Sam Adeyemi, internationally-renowned executive coach, keynote speaker and author of the new book “SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate Your Leadership” (Feb 5th – Wiley), writes about four ways successful leaders give a boost to employee morale.
1. They make room for the diversity of their community: Studies show that when employees feel confident everyone at the workplace will be safe and respected, they’re happier and more productive. Successful leaders need to cultivate diversity and inclusion if they want to keep employee morale high and take advantage of the many benefits diversity can have on the bottom line.
2. They acknowledge and celebrate employee success in detail: Only 35% of workers are celebrated on a monthly basis. This is why successful leaders celebrate employee success visibly and in detail — visibly makes the celebration part of the working culture at large, and in detail makes the cause for celebration incredibly clear: Who was responsible for this success? How was it achieved?
3. They find little ways to have fun every single day: It should come as no surprise then that a staggering 81% of employees who work at one of Fortune’s “100 Best Places to Work” describe their work as “fun.” A culture of fun means a more engaged workplace, and a more engaged workplace means up to 23% greater profitability across the board.
4. They start meaningful and uplifting traditions within the workplace: Not every workplace tradition needs to be as industry-defining as Krispy Kreme’s “KK Mixer” or Google’s “20% Time Rule,” but with the right forethought and enough commitment from the community, workplace traditions can transform the way your business innovates or how your employees engage with one another on a daily basis.
Atlanta-based Dr. Sam Adeyemi is CEO of Sam Adeyemi, GLC, Inc. and founder and executive director of Daystar Leadership Academy (DLA). More than 52,000 alumni have graduated from DLA programs, and more than 3 million CEOs and high performing individuals follow him on top social media sites. He is the author of “Dear Leader: Your Flagship Guide to Successful Leadership.” His upcoming book, “SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate Your Leadership” (Wiley, Feb 2025) is now available for preorder. He holds a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Virginia’s Regent University, and is a member of the International Leadership Association. He and his wife, Nike (say Nee keh) have three children.
