Cisco UK & Ireland Blog
Share

A little more engagement goes a long way


October 21, 2015


Transform your Workforce Experience

Transform your Workforce Experience

When people are engaged in what they’re doing, it’s good for business. No surprises there, right? But you might not realise just how true that statement is. Here’s a little bit of statistical backup: a 2012 Gallup study found that companies with the most engaged workforces were up to 22% more profitable.

But how do we keep everyone as engaged as possible? Well, the technology your people use has a vital role to play. Transforming your workforce’s experiences in terms of where and how they are able to work, communicate and collaborate has a big effect on their engagement. Here are some thoughts on how to do that:

Connecting to work from the sofa

officeoflife1

Staying connected to the office helps you stay engaged working from home

Whether the plumber’s visiting or a family member has come down with the flu, sometimes people need to work away from the office. And when that happens, they need flexibility and the ability to do their job effectively, despite working remotely.

That means staying connected with the workplace. Instant messages and sharing files helps them stay in touch and stay engaged with their work and their colleagues, instead of feeling cut off. But there’s more that can be done, which brings me onto the next point…

Talking face-to-face using video

Video makes a big difference. When people can host meetings and attend video conferences wherever they are, they can work more flexibly but still show their faces in every meeting – literally. It can save the day if their flight is cancelled, or if there’s a transport strike, or if they just can’t get back to the office in time.

There’s more. Because video calling is face-to-face communication, it’s more personal and engaging than voice or text. It allows people to feel more connected with their colleagues back at the office and clients elsewhere. Facial expressions, body language and eye contact – they’re all highly important in real communication, and you can’t achieve them in voice calls or text. Emojis aren’t quite the same. Nope, not even the cute cat. Sorry.

Having everything you need on the move

office of life 2

Working on the move is more productive with Virtual Desktop

For people to be fully engaged in their work on the go, they need to be able to do all the things they can usually do in the office – wherever they are. Easier said than done.

However, desktop virtualisation means people can access all their important work applications and files remotely, using any device. They can bring their desktop with them anywhere: on the train to the office, working off-site and on trips abroad.

There are also ways to make sure people are more engaged in the office as well as outside, which I’ll explain now:

 Using your personal devices (for work)

office of life 3

Higher engagement means increased productivity

Employees’ personal mobile devices aren’t just for games and social networks. In fact, people are often more comfortable when they can use their own tablets and smartphones for work. These are the devices they choose to use in their spare time, so they like them, they know how to use them, and they don’t have to be weighed down by carrying extra work devices.

If people can connect these devices at work quickly and securely, they can then use them on the go instead of being stuck to their desks. It means you can be a bit more free at work, more dynamic, and ultimately more engaged. Which in turn means more productive.

So, there’s a few ideas on how to improve your workforce experience and keep engagement high. Once your people start discovering these new ways of working, they’ll naturally fit them into their working life – and your organisation will enjoy the benefits, too.

Learn more about video collaboration here. Or for more details on how Mobility Solutions can boost efficiency, productivity and security visit this page.

Tags:
Leave a comment