Talent management and employee engagement are two different programs or concepts. But they are largely interlinked with each other in any organizational setting. While Talent management helps acquire and train excellent skills, knowledge, and talents, employee engagement helps apply the skills and knowledge in a way that will add value to the organization. As Timothy R. Clark once said, “Highly engaged employees make the customer experience. Disengaged employees break it”. Thus, improving employee engagement is essential, and talent management is one way to do it.
Talent management isn’t just restricted to hiring and training employees, and it’s more about creating an environment for the talent to thrive and finding ways by which they can contribute towards acquiring the company’s objectives and aspirations. One of the ways to do so is by effective employee engagement. So, there is an apparent link between employee engagement and talent management. Let’s take a look at the various ways they are connected.
- Onboarding link: An onboarding program is a part of talent management. When it is a powerful one, it helps employees engage better in the workforce culture and creates a workspace that appreciates engagement in every way.
- Recruitment link: When an HR team goes through hurdles and competition to hire a budding talent for their organization, that employee will automatically feel important and engaged in the company’s processes.
- Training link: Organizations that prepare continuous training programs for employees to learn and improve their skills effectively enable them to engage better with the company, co-employees, and the employer.
Now that we have understood the clear link between talent management and employee engagement, let’s look at specific talent management strategies that can enhance employee engagement in a company.
- Conducting fun sessions outside work.
Communicating is the key to transparency, and transparency encourages success in an organization. Employees are often restricted to their specific departments and busy with their specific tasks and deadlines. In such cases, to help employees engage better, the talent management team should conduct recreational and cross-departmental programs. This will encourage employee engagement throughout the organization and improve communication among them.
- Appraisal and appreciation.
Employees are professionals who are skilled and talented individuals filled with potential. When a company identifies and appreciates the employee’s potential to the fullest and provides incentives to thank them, it encourages employees towards better engagement with the organization as a whole. Recozagining employees’ achievements and addressing them loudly create a positive workspace environment which helps in enhancing employee engagement and makes employees feel more involved and safe in the environment. Employees who are satisfied with their organization are better engaged with their organization. They become loyal to the company, providing their skills and knowledge to achieve organizational goals.
- Providing customized coaching and training.
One of the significant ways to create an engaged workforce is by providing them with customized and collective coaching and training programs that can help them find a common base. A huge part of talent management is planning ways to train employees and have their access to development programs, and this can also encourage employee engagement. A well-crafted and flexible training program can establish the organization’s commitment to its employees. This helps create a better working environment due to a thriving employee engagement system in place.
- Foster closer relations with your employee.
Times have changed, and your relationship with your employee shouldn’t be limited to the workplace. A healthy personal relationship can enhance employee engagement initiatives in the workspace. One of the many ways to foster better and closer attention to your employee is by getting their socials or giving them individual attention to create a connectivity-filled culture. When you, as the employer or a talent manager, connect to the employee and go out of your way to listen and engage with them, it helps enhance employee engagement as a whole.
Conclusion:
A workforce engaged and connected with its company to an intimate level will put all their skills, efforts, and even time towards achieving the organization’s long-term goals. Employee engagement is vital to any company that wants to thrive, as the employee is any organization’s biggest asset. Talent management can help recognize ways and plan effective employee engagement in the workplace. Hopefully, some of the talent management strategies mentioned above can guide you toward enhancing employee engagement around you.