Lately, there has been a lot of focus on employee engagement, diversity, inclusion, and other issues on a national as well as global scale. Although these are crucial to a company’s success, there are other factors that are as important but are often overlooked by HR.
Employee fulfilment is one such factor.
Yes, it does sound like something that the employee needs to strive for personally. However, every company has an integral part to play in employee fulfilment. Allow us to explain.
Why is Employee Fulfilment Important?
one reason for the oversight of employee fulfilment could be that companies often assume if employee engagement is high, then employees must be fulfilled in their jobs. However, it is essential to note although the two are interconnected, engagement does not beget fulfilment.
Most companies tend to think that employees leave their jobs in search of higher pay- in fact, 89% of employers are convinced of it- and they could not be further from the truth. The reality is that just about 12% of employees actually quit for more money.
Indeed, employee satisfaction and retention are more than just about pay.
Every human wants to feel valued and that they have an intrinsic purpose in life. When they find this purpose, they are rewarded with a sense of fulfilment, which is true both personally and professionally.
But the sad reality is that most companies do not recognise this need, and often, employees can feel like just a cog in the organisational wheel. This leads to a sense of alienation, dissatisfaction, and low retention rates.
That being said, one reason for the oversight of employee fulfilment could be that companies often assume if employee engagement is high, then employees must be fulfilled in their jobs. However, it is essential to note although the two are interconnected, engagement does not beget fulfilment.
Therefore, companies must take note, understand this need and make sure that every employee understands their unique contribution to the organisation. Only then can they feel a sense of fulfilment and purpose in their roles.
To understand the concept of fulfilment better, let us understand what is required for employees to feel fulfilled.
Factors leading to employee fulfilment
Simply put, fulfilment is described as a feeling people have when their motivations and work are aligned, resulting in a sense of meaning and purpose.
Studies show that employees find their work experience fulfilling when:
- They are making an impact that they feel matters
- They have a sense of belonging and meaningful relationships with their co-workers
- They feel that they are growing both personally and professionally.
It is, therefore, glaringly obvious that engagement and fulfilment are two different things.
However, more importantly, it also becomes obvious that employees who feel fulfilled at work will stay loyal to the company in the long run.
Laying the Foundation for Employee Fulfilment
1. Make employees feel that they are making an impact
Every human wants validation and positive reinforcement.
When companies make employees understand that their role adds value to the company, to their colleagues, as well as contributes to the organisation’s overall success, they will invest more in their work and care more about what they do. By making them feel that their work is valued, they will also have a greater sense of ownership. This is also an effective way to better team performance and help the organisation thrive.
There are different ways to value employees, such as rewards and recognition for a job well accomplished, involving them in decision-making, etc. Finding the right ways that work for both employees and the organisation is key to employee retention.
On the whole, employees who are respected, appreciated, and valued are more likely to stay loyal to the company.
2. Create a sense of belonging
A sense of belonging is one of the most basic human needs. Creating the same in the workplace is crucial because, at some point, employees are going to question if all the time they are spending at work is really worth something. Click To TweetA sense of belonging is one of the most basic human needs. Creating the same in the workplace is crucial because, at some point, employees are going to question if all the time they are spending at work is really worth something.
Hence the key is in creating a workplace to which employees will love to come back every day. An environment where they feel connected to their colleagues can build meaningful relationships and genuinely care about each other, the work that they do, and the organisation as a whole.
Ensure that every employee knows their role and the value placed on their role. Also, finding meaningful ways to bring employees together makes them feel like they are an integral part of a team, and they’ll be more likely to stick around.
3. Growth opportunities
Most people feel alive and fulfilled when they grow. This is because they believe they are progressing.
Therefore, learning and development (L&D) are the best ways to help people grow within the organisation. Learning new things always feels good and helps employees reach their full potential – which is one of the best paths to fulfilment.
By acquiring appropriate skills and knowledge, employees can advance in their careers. When they learn new skills, they get bigger responsibilities, manage a bigger team, and contribute better to the organisation.
Studies show that growth opportunities are a key job satisfaction factor for 30% of workers.
When people stop growing, they feel like they are stagnating and not progressing.
By providing employees with learning opportunities, and development, the company can keep them on a growth path and avoid stagnation and a feeling of non-fulfilment. And naturally, if they feel that they are growing within the organisation, they are unlikely to want to leave in search of another job. Hence, this is an effective way to retain employees in the organisation.
Conclusion
The sad truth is that the vast majority of employees do not enjoy their work because the organisations have not taken the time or the effort to help them understand the value of their role and their contribution.
However, for an organisation to flourish, its people have to thrive, and the only way to do this is to take a human approach.
Fulfilment and meaningful work are significant contributors to a more human experience. In addition, a personal sense of purpose and meaning is crucial for humans to flourish within the organisation, and the sooner companies take steps to remedy this problem, the sooner retention will cease to be an issue.
And now it’s your turn! If you have found fulfilment in your job, let us know how you went about it and how the company contributed to your journey. Leave us a comment. We would love to hear from you.
