. Drivers of Employee Engagement
Many researches have tried to identify factors leading to employee engagement and developed models to draw
implications for managers. Their diagnosis aims to determine the drivers that will increase employee engagement
level.
According to Penna research report (2007) meaning at work has the potential to be valuable way of bringing
employers and employees closer together to the benefit of both where employees experience a sense of
community, the space to be themselves and the opportunity to make a contribution, they find meaning.
Employees want to work in the organizations in which they find meaning at work. Penna (2007) researchers
have also come up with a new model they called “Hierarchy of engagement” which resembles Maslow’s need
hierarchy model. In the bottom line there are basic needs of pay and benefits. Once an employee satisfied these
needs, then the employee looks to development opportunities, the possibility for promotion and then leadership
style will be introduced to the mix in the model. Finally, when all the above cited lower level aspirations have
been satisfied the employee looks to an alignment of value-meaning, which is displayed by a true sense of
connection, a common purpose and a shared sense of meaning at work.
The BlessingWhite (2006) study has found that almost two third’s (60%) of the surveyed employees want more
opportunities to grow forward to remain satisfied in their jobs. Strong manager-employee relationship is a crucial
ingredient in the employee engagement and retention formula.
Development Dimensions International (DDI, 2005) states that a manager must do five things to create a highly
engaged workforce. They are:
Align efforts with strategy
Empower
Promote and encourage teamwork and collaboration
Help people grow and develop
Provide support and recognition where appropriate