So, what is dopamine and how is it related to employee engagement? Dopamine is a chemical found naturally in the human body. It is a neurotransmitter, meaning it sends signals from the body to the brain. Dopamine is most notably involved in helping us feel pleasure as part of the brain’s reward system.
While a pay rise is welcome by everybody in any field of work, it is not the only reason an employee stays with their company. Motivation is not a permanent feeling and as such, strategies to sustain employee engagement within your organisation are needed to keep your business meeting its goals with motivated employees. But what is at the heart of employee engagement? And how can you generate more dopamine amongst your employees to ensure they feel rewarded and inspired to continue giving their best at work? There are well-researched and proven ways to make this happen, and we spoke to electrical engineering recruitment specialists Precision People about what they
Team-building
“Team building days are a fantastic way to improve employee engagement because studies show that we bond to other people through a shared experience. While you may be thinking working at the same company is enough, the reason team building days often centre around solving puzzles and challenges lies in how our brains are wired. In the work sphere, colleagues can view each other as competition for promotions or the manager’s good books, whereas cooperative activities that involve the production of adrenaline (whether a mental or physical activity) will enhance the collaboration of your team as everybody gets acquainted with the strengths and personalities of each other.”
Everyone wants to feel like they’re a valued member of the team, so if they can contribute something towards a shared goal the entire team is working towards unanimously in a low-pressure setting, the novelty of the experience will engender positive feelings towards teamwork and the individuals they work with.
“Once the dopamine hit of contributing some initiative in the team building day has subsided, your employees will be looking to replace that feeling by becoming a more involved member of the team. The positive rewards of actively feeling a part of your organisation will be reinforced as they contribute towards bolstering your reputation with their genuine enthusiasm.”
Employee Recognition
“An employee award scheme is a similar way of mining that feel-good chemical: dopamine as the reward for their efforts is set out for them. There are multiple ways to reward your employees and some you may even be doing already but making them predictable encourages employees to work hard in order to achieve that public recognition that elevates their social standing at work.”
The classic and famous ‘employee of the month’ award is one of the most well-known ways of rewarding your employees, but vouchers, best performing lists and experience-based gifts also work well for fostering a sense of pride in your employees’ attitude to their work.
Employee engagement can be managed in many ways but an engagement strategy is guaranteed to bring success. We visit your workplace to review your procedures, ensure we understand your organisation with communication with you and then devise a tailored plan that incorporates your values and vision.
