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  • Amidst the shifting dynamics of modern workplaces, fostering employee engagement stands as a cornerstone of organizational success. Engaged employees aren’t just contributors; they drive innovation, productivity, and positive company culture. The significance of nurturing engagement through quarterly check-ins cannot be overstated.

    Studies show 81% of employees feel they should receive feedback at least quarterly via check-ins with their manager. These structured sessions serve as valuable touchpoints between employees and managers, igniting a cycle of empowerment, growth, and heightened commitment.

    Cultivating Meaningful Connections

    Quarterly check-ins transcend the quick nature of routine meetings. They carve out dedicated time for meaningful conversations beyond day-to-day tasks. This structured approach allows employees and managers to delve deeper into accomplishments, challenges, aspirations, and personal development goals. The resulting connection builds trust and rapport, which fosters a sense of belonging and appreciation within the team.

    GMS’ HR Account Manager Danielle Zielaskiewicz, added, “When managers meet frequently with their employees, it allows for a more accurate measurement of employee performance. Regular touch bases can also establish a good rapport between managers and employees, acting as a temperature check to ensure employee engagement with the company.”

    Clarity In Expectations And Goals

    Crystal-clear communication forms the backbone of any successful professional relationship. Quarterly check-ins offer a platform to align expectations and set realistic, achievable goals. Through open dialogue, employees gain a deeper understanding of their roles within the organization’s larger vision. This clarity minimizes ambiguity, reducing stress and enhancing focus on strategic objectives.

    Continuous Feedback For Growth

    Frequent, ongoing feedback loops are rapidly replacing the traditional annual performance review model. Quarterly check-ins provide a moment for constructive feedback, enabling real-time course corrections and acknowledging accomplishments promptly. In addition, companies that provide regular feedback report 14.9% lower turnover rates than those who don’t provide feedback at all. This timely feedback loop is pivotal for continuous improvement, skill enhancement, and professional development.

    Enhanced Employee Engagement And Retention

    Engaged employees are more committed, productive, and invested in the organization’s success. Companies create a culture of inclusivity and appreciation by actively involving employees in these structured discussions. Feeling valued and heard, employees become more motivated to contribute their best, ultimately reducing turnover rates and bolstering retention.

    Driving Personal And Professional Growth

    Individual growth is intertwined with organizational success. Quarterly check-ins facilitate discussions on career aspirations, skill development, and training needs. This focus on personal and professional growth benefits the employee and aligns individual ambitions with the company’s objectives, ensuring a win-win scenario.

    Empowerment Through Connection

    In essence, formal quarterly check-ins transcend mere scheduled meetings; they represent a commitment to employee empowerment and engagement. These intentional interactions create a culture of open communication, trust, and collaboration. However, we understand that implementing these check-ins can’t be done in the blink of an eye. That’s where GMS, a professional employer organization (PEO), comes in to help.

    GMS’ HR experts provide business owners with support in streamlining HR processes, providing frameworks and guidance to integrate these check-ins into your business seamlessly. With our expertise in managing HR intricacies, GMS ensures these interactions become a seamless part of your company’s culture, creating an environment where employee engagement thrives organically. When you partner with GMS, you can elevate your approach to employee engagement, harnessing the power of structured interactions to drive success and growth within your organization. Interested in learning more? Contact us today.

  • Running a small business is no small feat. It requires dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to success. In this dynamic and competitive landscape, where every decision matters, small business owners must embrace a strategic approach that can elevate their venture to new heights. One such indispensable strategy is performance management. Often underestimated, performance management is key to unlocking a business’s full potential, especially for those operating on a smaller scale.

    The Essence Of Performance Management

    Performance management is not just another corporate buzzword; it’s a comprehensive strategy that helps businesses align their workforce’s efforts with their goals, ensuring improved productivity, employee engagement, and overall success. Performance management involves setting clear expectations, regularly monitoring progress, providing constructive feedback, and recognizing achievements. Performance management aims to create an environment where individuals can perform to the best of their abilities and align with the organization’s overall goals.

    Why Business Owners Should Embrace Performance Management

    1. Goal alignment: Effective performance management ensures that every employee understands their role in achieving the company’s objectives. This alignment fosters a sense of purpose and direction among the workforce, driving them to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s success.
    2. Continuous improvement: Performance management empowers employees to refine their skills and work habits through ongoing monitoring and feedback. This culture of continuous improvement translates into enhanced efficiency and innovation, contributing to the company’s competitiveness.
    3. Employee engagement and satisfaction: When employees feel that their efforts are acknowledged and their growth is supported, they become more engaged and satisfied. This positive atmosphere not only boosts productivity but also reduces turnover rates.
    4. Effective communication: Regular performance discussions foster open lines of communication between employees and management. This dialogue allows for identifying challenges and opportunities, leading to quicker problem-solving and optimal decision-making.
    5. Recognition and motivation: Performance management provides a platform for recognizing and celebrating achievements. Public acknowledgment of hard work and dedication instills a sense of pride and motivates employees to excel further.
    6. Data-driven insights: Collecting and analyzing performance data provides valuable insights into individuals’ and teams’ strengths and weaknesses. These insights inform strategic decisions, resource allocation, and future planning.

    Amy Latchaw, GMS’ Client Services Manager, added, “Performance management is one of the most important HR functions an organization can invest time and resources in. Effective performance management helps you better understand your employees, their talents and shortcomings, and what’s needed to achieve the organization’s goals.”

    The Power Of Clarity And Alignment 

    In the world of small business, resources are often limited. Therefore, ensuring that every effort is aligned with the business’s strategic direction is paramount. Performance management provides the tools to set clear goals, expectations, and priorities. When everyone in the organization knows what’s expected of them and how their contributions fit into the bigger picture, it breeds a sense of purpose that drives productivity.

    Nurturing Accountability And Ownership

    For a small business to thrive, accountability cannot be an afterthought. Performance management instills a sense of ownership within employees. When individuals take ownership of their tasks and projects, they are more likely to be invested in their success. This sense of responsibility boosts productivity and fosters a culture of innovation, where employees feel empowered to take initiative and contribute ideas.

    Continuous Learning And Adaptation

    In today’s fast-paced business landscape, adaptability is key. Small businesses must be agile in responding to changes in the market, technology, and consumer preferences. Performance management facilitates a cycle of continuous learning and improvement. Regular check-ins, performance evaluations, and feedback sessions allow employees to reflect on their progress, identify areas for growth, and make necessary adjustments. This iterative process ensures that the business remains relevant and competitive.

    Empowering Employee Development

    Employees are the backbone of any organization, and their growth directly impacts the business’s success. Performance management enables small business owners to identify high-potential individuals, address skill gaps, and provide targeted training and development opportunities. By investing in their team’s growth, business owners enhance their employees’ capabilities and create a loyal and motivated workforce.

    Building A Culture Of Recognition

    Recognizing and appreciating hard work is a cornerstone of effective performance management. Small business owners can harness the power of positive reinforcement to boost morale and foster a culture of appreciation. Employees who feel valued and acknowledged for their contributions are more likely to remain engaged and motivated.

    The PEO Advantage In Performance Management

    As the journey toward small business success continues, it’s essential to recognize the valuable role that a professional employer organization (PEO) can play in enhancing performance management efforts. PEOs bring a wealth of expertise and resources to the table, assisting small business owners in streamlining their performance management strategies. From offering guidance on goal setting and employee development to providing tools for data-driven decision-making and comprehensive HR solutions, a PEO like GMS can be a partner that propels your business toward its goals.

    By alleviating administrative burdens and providing a tailored approach to performance management, GMS empowers small business owners to focus on what truly matters – driving growth, fostering innovation, and nurturing a thriving workforce. So, as you embark on your journey of maximizing success, consider the strategic advantage that a PEO can bring to your performance management endeavors, leading your business toward a brighter and more prosperous future. Learn more about our performance management services and contact us today!

  • As a business owner, you want your employees to come into work with enthusiasm and motivation to take on the day. After all, employee engagement can be very beneficial to a business in a number of ways. Yet, it’s not often that companies prioritize it. According to Gallup’s State of the American Workforce Report, only one in three employees are engaged at work. Below, we shared some ideas to improve employee engagement within your small business as well as a few key benefits.

     A group of coworkers are enjoying a pizza together at the office during lunch.

    Why is Employee Engagement Important?

    Employee engagement equates to more than just workplace happiness. According to Willis Towers Watson, employee engagement is an “employee’s willingness and ability to contribute to company success.” By this definition, high employee engagement can mean significant growth for your business. Specifically, here are a few key benefits that high engagement can bring:

    • Increased productivity. Engaged employees have the ability and motivation to outperform those who are disengaged. According to Gallup, highly engaged workforces were 17 percent more productive than those with less engagement. 
    • Greater profitability. Inc magazine reports that increasing employee engagement investments by 10 percent can increase profits by $2,400 per employee per year.
    • Improved retention. Employees who are invested in their employers won’t want to look elsewhere for work. The same Gallup report found that companies reduced employee turnover by 90 percent when engagement increased.
    • Better customer service. A business’s employee experience can directly impact customer experience. According to research by Temkin Group, companies whose customer experience is significantly better than their competitors have more engaged employees.
    • Reduced absenteeism. Low job motivation can cause employees not to show up for work. Gallup also found that companies were indicated to experience 37 percent less absenteeism as a result of increased employee engagement.

    How to Improve Employee Engagement

    Considering the many benefits that high employee engagement can provide, there are many different approaches you can take to improve engagement within your organization. According to an article by The New York Times, employees are more engaged when four of their core needs are addressed:

    • Physical – when employees can renew and recharge at work.
    • Emotional – when employees feel valued and appreciated for their contributions.
    • Mental – when employees have the time to focus on their most important tasks and define when and where they accomplish their work.
    • Spiritual – when employees can do more of what they do best and enjoy most.

    With these core needs in mind, here are some cost-effective ideas to improve employee engagement within your small business.

    Lunch and Learn

    Consider this an upgrade from your typical meeting. As the name suggests, lunch and learn sessions are casual training or informational meetings hosted by a fellow employee during lunchtime. During a lunch and learn, an employee shares a short presentation on a business-related topic, such as how to use marketing automation software or a case study on an exceptional project they worked on. Participants bring their lunches, listen in, and ask questions while enjoying their lunch. Lunch and learn sessions are a great way for your employees to learn about different sides of your business and the types of projects their colleagues are working on.

    Innovation Days

    Innovation days can be a day, or a half day, where employees are allowed to use company hours to work on special projects that matter to them. It allows employees to be creative, learn new things, and try new ideas, and they will certainly appreciate you for that. As a result of setting aside time dedicated to innovation, your employees may uncover ways to reduce costs, streamline processes, and make your business even stronger.

    Team Outings

    Company culture is an important aspect of any employee’s life. According to Glassdoor, 58 percent of workers say that company culture is more important than salary when it comes to job satisfaction. Hosting work outings can make your employees want to stay for who you are and what you do, and not for just a paycheck. Consider creating a culture committee focused on planning regular team outings and office activities, such as team lunches, happy hours, picnics, sporting events, and volunteer opportunities.

    Work Clubs

    Shared hobbies can certainly bring people together. Consider creating work clubs, such as fantasy football leagues, running clubs, softball teams, and book clubs, for likeminded employees. Clubs can be a great way to change the conversation from work to personal life and can serve as a prime environment for co-workers to develop camaraderie. According to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), the more friends an employee has at work, the more likely they are to reject another job offer.

    Wellness Programs

    For employees to be engaged on the job, mental and physical health can play a significant role. That’s where implementing a workplace wellness program can help. Consider wellness programs beyond smoking cessation and drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Additional workplace wellness activities could be stress management and workout sessions. Wellness challenges, such as a step count challenge or water drinking challenge, can also be a great way to add some friendly competition into the mix.

    Performance Reviews

    Providing regular feedback is crucial to keeping employees engaged. Research shows the value of feedback: four out of 10 workers become disengaged when they receive little to no feedback, 82 percent of employees appreciate feedback, and 43 percent of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week. 

    Regular check-ins―whether weekly, monthly, or quarterly―allow management to acknowledge an employee’s efforts and discuss opportunities for development and growth. These discussions can help employees feel more connected to the business, as they will gain a better understanding of the individual role they play in meeting your business goals and develop a sense of purpose that will keep them engaged on the job. 

    Training and Mentorship Programs

    Employee training shouldn’t end after onboarding is complete. For your employees to stay engaged, it’s important not to let them fall into a rut. Without opportunities to develop and learn professionally, employees are more likely to lose motivation and start to look elsewhere for work. According to a Korn Ferry survey, the majority of those changing jobs said boredom and the need for new challenges were the top reasons they were leaving. 

    Employee training programs can be an effective way to not only teach new employees but also develop existing workers’ skillsets. Additionally, mentorship programs can serve as a great way to help young employees grow within your organization.

    Regular Breaks

    Regular breaks offer employees time to reset and refocus. The New York Times reports that employees who take a break every 90 minutes experience a 30 percent higher level of focus than those who don’t, as well as a 50 percent higher ability to think creatively. A survey by Staples echoes these findings, with 80 percent of respondents saying that breaks make them feel more productive. As these findings show, when breaks are encouraged, employees feel like they can have better work-life balance, which can lead to greater engagement.

    Employee Recognition Programs

    Research has found that employees not only want but expect to be recognized when they do good work. As a result, Glassdoor found that more than 80 percent of employees are motivated to work harder when shown appreciation. Employee recognition programs are a great way to accomplish that. Consider building recognition programs that are aligned with your purpose, values, and goals as a way to show appreciation, encourage positive behavior, and keep engagement levels high.

    Need more employee engagement ideas? Contact GMS today to learn how our employee performance management services can help.