The Hierarchy of Needs for Employee Engagement

The Hierarchy of Needs for Employee Engagement

The following is a guest post provided by our friends at FutureFuel

Employee engagement isn’t just a trendy phrase for your next company meeting. When your employees feel connected and engaged with the corporate mission, you will see a noticeable boost in productivity and loyalty.

 

There is no blanket strategy for increasing engagement levels because every workplace has a different culture to it. However, you can utilize the psychological concept of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to develop an employee engagement strategy that will work for your corporate environment.

What is the Hierarchy of Needs?

 

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a pretty straightforward concept that is generally accepted in the world of psychology. He believed that humans have five basic needs that must be fulfilled in order to stay happy and motivated, and he said that each of these needs has a place in a pyramid-style hierarchy.

 

Basic needs at the bottom of this pyramid must be taken care of first, and the higher-level needs can be addressed afterward.

 

According to Maslow, the needs must be addressed in the following order:

 

  1. Physiological needs like food, water, and shelter
  2. Safety and security
  3. Relationships and belonging
  4. Status and respect
  5. Self-actualization or personal growth

 

This hierarchy of needs can easily translate to the needs of an employee in terms of engagement. 

Hierarchy of Engagement

 

Using Maslow’s pyramid as a method of better understanding employee engagement can be helpful for developing a strategy to keep everyone feeling fulfilled when they come to work.

 

To show how this is accomplished, this section will outline each need and demonstrate how it can be applied to the workplace.

Survival Needs

 

This is the base of the pyramid, and it is what everything else must be built upon. In daily life, this is the ability to satisfy physiological needs like hunger, thirst, and sleep.

 

In the workplace, this translates more specifically to wages. At the base level of the engagement hierarchy, people are most concerned about their ability to earn a living. As much as a job should be about more than money, everyone needs money to survive in today’s world. 

Security Needs

 

After physiological needs are able to be consistently met, the next step up is safety. This is the ability to accumulate resources, maintain good health, and feel secure in day-to-day life.

 

In terms of engagement, the employees will be concerned about job security and their ability to perform well.

Belonging Needs

When security is no longer an issue, the next step toward fulfillment includes meaningful relationships and connection to others.

 

At this part of the hierarchy, employees are happiest when they feel like they’re part of a team that’s working together toward a common goal.

Status and Recognition Needs

 

Not everyone craves the spotlight, but everyone wants to feel like his or her contributions are valued.

 

In the workplace, this step of the hierarchy often translates to recognizing employees for their individual achievements. These needs can also be met by asking for and implementing feedback from individual workers.

Self-actualization

 

At the top of the pyramid is self-actualization. Here is where humans are able to explore their true potential and achieve personal growth.

 

At work, employees at the top of the pyramid are often seen as leaders by their peers. These people are happy to come to work because they feel like they’re making a difference, and their enthusiasm tends to be infectious.

Applying the Hierarchy

 

Understanding this hierarchy in the context of the workplace can help your business develop better engagement strategies.

 

One way to ensure that every employee is able to reach the higher levels of this pyramid is by managing compensation. Ensure that employees are able to earn well. Offer incentives, promotions, and raises as a way of helping workers meet the two most basic levels of needs.

 

Creating a culture that appeals to the higher levels of the hierarchy will largely depend on the industry your company is in. However, there are some basic ideas you can implement to help employees work their way up to self-actualization.

 

A good starting point is to regularly ask for feedback from everyone. It can be anonymous or not, depending on what is the most viable option for your particular corporate culture. Asking for opinions on team building events, new projects, and how best to recognize employee contributions can be very eye-opening.

 

By asking for this feedback and incorporating it into your workplace culture, you will show workers that they are being valued. You will be able to foster better relationships between employees because you will have a better understanding of what appeals to them.

Employee Engagement Is Simpler Than You Might Think

 

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs applies to everyday life, but it is also an excellent model for how your employees engage in the workplace as well.

 

Remember that the most basic of needs must be fulfilled first in the form of compensation and job security. Once employees feel secure in their positions, they will start to look for connections, respect, and a sense of higher purpose.

 

It may take a bit of trial and error to learn the best ways to implement this approach in your corporate culture, but it is well worth the effort. You will see noticeable increases in happiness, productivity, and loyalty when you begin to successfully apply the hierarchy of needs to a workplace setting.

Remote Work Q&A Podcast With Ultimate Software’s Cecile Alper-Leroux [Full Interview]

Remote Work Q&A Podcast With Ultimate Software’s Cecile Alper-Leroux [Full Interview]


Download the full report here: https://www.ultimatesoftware.com/Remote-Work-Research

In this HR video podcast, Jumpstart:HR Founder Joey Price is joined by Cecile Alper-Leroux. She is the VP of Human Capital Management (HCM) Innovation at Ultimate Software, a company that provides HCM solutions in order to help organizations improve the employee experience and grow their business.

Cecil has over 20 years of experience in both national and global market and she is an internationally sought-out speaker, thought leader, and visionary on HCM trends, hot topics, and global strategies. She joined Ultimate Software in 2010 and she’s been focusing on fostering a culture of innovation at Ultimate ever since.

In this video, we will be going over the results of their latest research on the benefits of remote workers.

Our topics include:

  • What is the current state of remote work?
  • The results of Ulitmate Software’s latest study on the effects of remote work.
  • What are some of the key benefits that should encourage employers to add remote work to their business model?
  • How will having an increased number of remote workers affect managerial roles?
  • How is remote work helping women in the workplace?
  • The technological trends that are helping bridge the gap between the office and the remote workforce.

All that and a whole lot more! Stay tuned for another action-packed episode of the Business, Life, and Coffee Podcast!

Connect with Cecile:

If you enjoyed this episode please take time to give it a 5-star review!

Learn More: http://bit.ly/blcitunes

Also, check out some of our previous episodes for more advice and tips on how to boost your career and take your business to the next level!

See you next week!

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The Top 5 Workforce Skills in the US Job Market – 2019

The Top 5 Workforce Skills in the US Job Market – 2019

 

In this internet era, finding job listings is pretty straightforward. However, it is arguably harder than ever to stand out in a crowd of experienced applicants. However, if you have excellent skills and you know how to draw attention to them on your resume, your chances of being noticed by a recruiter are pretty good. Also, if you are an employer looking for talent, wouldn’t you like to know what skills are in demand today and needed for tomorrow?

 

After analyzing various reports and profiles, I have identified the top five skills that helped get candidates hired last year. Take a look:

 

Cloud and Distributed Computing 

With the rise of cloud computing-based applications like Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Cloud, and Google Drive, the need for skilled and capable professionals is increasing. Companies are eager to spend more money on employees with cloud computing skills because of the high demand for remote software storage. As a result of high demand, professionals with these skills can easily command high salaries. In 2018, the average salary packages offered to Platform Engineer and Cloud Architect was about $107,185/year and $142,141/year.

Learn More About Cloud Computing

Analytical Reasoning

Data analyzing, data organization, and business analyzing are among the few areas that need analytical reasoning skills. As companies collect data more than ever before, they are starving for professionals who can make smart decisions based on it.

Whether you are preparing business analysis or working on increasing engagement with data analytics, the capability to comprehend and present numerical data proves to be in high demand. Know that, in 2018, salary packages offered to Data Analysts and Business Analysts were about $65,000 and $70,000 per year.

Learn More About Analytical Reasoning Skills

Artificial Intelligence

The age of artificial intelligence is here to stay. Therefore, this high-demand skill comes as no surprise. From generating personalized ads to tracking digital footprints to develop self-driving cars, AI is becoming a part of our daily.

Artificial Intelligence is expected to offer 2.3M opportunities by the year 2020. Just search on Indeed; vacancies in the field of artificial intelligence have doubled over the last three years and are expected to rise in the upcoming years. AI is the future, and employers seem to have caught on to this trend.

Develop Skills In Artificial Intelligence

People Management

Even though advances in technology have shifted the focus away from human interaction, people management remains number four on the top skills list! Technology is appreciated, but so are people, and the results of a combined effort you drive as a team are valued much higher compared to results-driven by one individual.

In the business, building successful relationships with employees and management is essential. Therefore, companies who want to build great workplace culture and improve the employee experience hunt for people with great people management skills. The people who are masters in this area are best suited for leadership positions in any organization.

Become a Better People Manager

 

Sales and Marketing Skills

With the increase in competition in the business field, the need for marketing skills is also increasing. Companies make every effort to stand out amongst competitors, and so must employees on an individual basis. As a result, the demand for people with excellent sales and marketing skills is growing.

When it comes to the salaries of the marketer, it usually varies with the capabilities and results produced. Where some marketers got vast salaries, others got even double of them. However, with the ability to earn commission and bonuses, the salary growth possibilities in this field are limitless.

Become a Better Marketer

While these may be the top five workforce skills in the US job market today, one constant thing is change. If your company requires updated job descriptions or general HR consulting support, contact us right away.

 

To stay on top of Jumpstart:HR, LLC’s view of all things Human Resources, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter today.