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O P I N I O N
Committees for engagement
Committees give employees a chance to lead, contribute, effect change, and make an impact beyond revenue.
I t’s a well proven fact that engaged employees make a positive difference on a firm’s success. Engaged employees have a positive impact on recruitment and retention, productivity, and client relations, as well as both a firm’s financial and cultural wellbeing. While it’s clear that engagement is important, there isn’t a clear path to engaged employees. A lot of firms mistake fun or socializing with engagement and are then mystified when employees leave or underperform. While building strong relationships between employees is important, the fact of the matter is no amount of pizza parties or happy hours can replace true engagement.
Julia DeFrances
True engagement comes when employees feel their contributions and ideas are meaningful, respected, and rewarded. It comes when employees feel that their voices are heard and that they can effect change. There are lots of ways to achieve this and any good engagement plan will utilize a variety of strategies. At BL Companies, we’ve found one of the most effective ways to build engagement is through a robust committee program, and if we look at the definition of true engagement above, it’s easy to see why. Committees give employees a chance to lead, to contribute, and to effect change, and they provide an opportunity to share ideas, get creative, and make a tangible impact on your business beyond revenue.
For a committee program to be successful for engagement, however, it needs to have certain features in place: ■ ■ Committees need structure. Which committees make sense for your firm? Howwill committees operate? At BL, we have more than 10 committees ranging from culture-focused committees like the Giving Back Committee, to technical-focused committees like the Safety Committee, to benefit-focused committees like the 401(k) Committee. There is a clear process for joining and participating in committees as well as
See JULIA DEFRANCES , page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER JANUARY 24, 2022, ISSUE 1425
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