A guest blog from Angela Cripps, MD/Owner at the Recruiting Gym, Training & coaching for Recruiters, Resourcers & Recruitment Leaders. Online, face-2-face and Consultancy.
Employee engagement is a critical factor in the success of any company, as it directly impacts productivity, morale, and overall business performance. While there are multiple theories and strategies to enhance employee engagement, one unique approach is inspired by the European School of Endocrinology’s research in 2016 on happy cows. In this post, we explore the parallel between happy cows and engaged employees, highlighting 5 valuable lessons that managers can implement to foster a culture of engagement within their company.
The Research:
The European School of Endocrinology’s research on happy cows offers unique insights into the impact of positive emotions on performance, well-being, and overall health. The study found that happy cows given daily infusions with the chemical Serotonin (commonly associated with feelings of happiness), were shown to have increased calcium levels in their milk. The research highlights the importance of emotions and well-being in optimising productivity and performance, which can be translated into the workplace environment.
Following up on this study, researchers at Newcastle University found that cattle that are named and treated with a “more personal touch” can increase milk yields by up to 280 litres a year. The study by the University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development involved 516 farmers across the UK.
Parallel to happy cows, employee engagement emphasises the significance of positive emotions and job satisfaction. Like happy cows, engaged employees are more likely to be committed, loyal, and productive. This parallel allows organisations to draw valuable lessons from the research to create a work environment that promotes employee happiness and engagement.
- Defining Employee Engagement:
To embark on this journey, it is important to establish a clear understanding of what employee engagement entails I your own business. We favour David MacLeod’s definition – “It is the employee’s willingness to put discretionary effort into their work in the form of time, brainpower and energy, above and beyond what is considered adequate”.
We delve into the various components of employee engagement, including commitment, motivation, and job satisfaction. By aligning these concepts with the concept of happy cows, we begin to unravel the connection between employee engagement and organisational success.
- Nurturing a Positive Work Environment:
Just as happy cows thrive in favourable and healthy living conditions, employees also require a positive work environment to flourish. Strategies to foster such an environment include open communication channels, meaningful recognition programs, work-life balance initiatives, and transparent leadership. Organisations establish a solid foundation for heightened employee engagement by prioritising employee well-being and satisfaction.
Creating a positive work environment involves fostering open communication channels, where employees feel comfortable expressing their opinions and concerns. Regular feedback sessions, team meetings, and one-on-one conversations including coaching sessions, performance reviews and appraisals allow for effective communication. Moreover, transparent leadership practices build trust amongst employees, promoting a positive work environment.
- Empowering Employees:
Happy cows (employees) signify empowerment, allowing them to make choices about their own well-being as a key element to feeling part of a company’s success. Similarly, organisations that empower their employees by involving them in decision-making processes and providing opportunities for growth and skill development, witness increased levels of engagement. In the Recruiting Gym, we support companies with topics such as delegation, autonomy, leadership, management and employee involvement programs that contribute to empowering the workforce.
- Building Strong Relationships:
The social nature and herd dynamics of happy cows teach us invaluable lessons about the importance of building strong relationships among employees. Organisations can create opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, fostering a sense of belonging and collective purpose. Team-building exercises, mentoring programs, and cross-functional projects are effective methods to enhance employee engagement through improved relationships.
- Recognising and Rewarding Excellence:
Meaningful recognition programs play a pivotal role in creating a positive workplace. Utilising both formal and informal recognition methods, companies can acknowledge and appreciate their employees’ contributions. Recognising employees’ efforts and achievements boosts their morale and reinforces their sense of value and worth within the company: engaged employees are more likely to go above and beyond when they feel their hard work is recognised and rewarded.
Formal recognition can take the form of Employee of the month/quarter/year programs, where outstanding performers are publicly celebrated. I used to also do this for Temp of the Month and Perm of the Month. The 12/24 winners from the year were put into an end-of-year competition and were chosen by the clients.
This not only highlighted individual achievements but also set a benchmark for others to strive for. Additionally, performance-based incentives and bonuses can be implemented to reward exceptional results, motivating employees to continuously excel.
How are you creating happy cows in your company?
Reference: The study “Elevation of circulating serotonin improves calcium dynamics in the peripartum dairy cow” was published in the Journal of Endocrinology – July 2016
Angela Cripps is a globally experienced trainer, management consultant, executive coach, board advisor, mentor and performance specialist who has been working within the recruitment industry for over 30 years.
Her aim is to make companies more successful and profitable through the development of their people and processes. She has worked with over 250 SMEs in 17 different countries and her LinkedIn recommendations are a testament to the impact she can have on a business.
Angela has recruited over 5,000 people herself during her recruitment career and trained and supported over 1,000 students to gain qualifications in recruitment.Angela is the owner and responsible for the day to day running of the Recruiting Gym – a training, coaching and consultancy business with an online training platform of over 100 courses relevant to the recruitment industry.
Angela supports any organisation that is looking to improve standards in recruitment as well as organisations on a voluntary basis – especially where it’s focus is getting either young people or those past the age of 55, employed. You can also catch her at work on the documentary ‘The Movement’ on Amazon Prime, whilst this year she’s training Amazon’s graduate resourcers.
Angela writes blog posts for several organisations, (including Recruitment Juice, Boomerang Funding and Vincere) and you’ll catch her on podcasts with Alison Humphries’ Recruitment Leadership, Firefish, Harnessing Happiness, ThinkInCircles, Leaderboard, The Employment Agents Movement (TEAM) whilst supporting the recruitment industry with hints, tips and techniques.
