Google is one of the most attractive companies in the world to work for. Its sheer prestige is enough to draw the masses – not to mention the above-average salaries and office spaces that resemble some of the best, professionally designed hotels and restaurants, fitness centers and in-house massages.
But it's not just free food or nice offices that make Googlers happy. In fact, it's something many people would think would make the staff quit immediately
In an effort to increase employee productivity, Google has come up with an incredibly simple strategy to increase employee satisfaction: give them more work!
Yes, you read that right: to increase employee happiness, give them more work, not less. In fact, this is the essence of the strangest yet most effective strategy in the Great Resignation period.
Here are three simple ways from Google that any business can use to increase employee satisfaction.
Give staff more purpose by giving them more work to do
As much as no one wants to be overworked, one of the most negative aspects of a job is when there is not enough work to do, which makes time for employees move at a snail's pace.
When staff are left watching the clock because they don't have enough work to do, it's not just boring for them, it's also unproductive for the company.
Leaving aside the boredom and mind-numbing effects of sitting around doing nothing, a more important reason why giving employees more work makes them happier is that, in doing so, you are giving them a sense of purpose and achievement in their work.
When employees feel like they are consistently completing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines, they have a sense of pride and satisfaction in their work.
Psychologically, people tend to need a sense of purpose. We need to feel like we are doing something meaningful and worthwhile. Having a purpose brings a host of benefits to people that extend beyond the workplace, according to a study from Cornell University.
Involve staff in projects that are not part of their direct duties
One way to get staff more involved and add work without burdening them with just more of the same work is to change the type of work and involve them in projects with other teams. This helps people showcase their unique skills, knowledge and perspectives, while also enabling them to create more professional relationships while gaining more knowledge and experience.
This way helps the staff to become more versatile, which is mutually beneficial for both the employer and the employee.
Set higher goals to help staff reach new heights
When people are given higher goals, they perform better than when they are given easier goals, according to a study published by the University of Minnesota. One of the areas where Google excels is setting very high goals for employees.
It's no surprise that the “Exceeding Expectations” team achieves the goals they've been given – even though they're well above the industry average.
It may not seem logical to you, but statistics show that it is better to have a staff that feels overworked than a staff that feels like there is no work to do.
This does not mean that employers should create an army of slaves. This means that employers have to have faith in their staff and help them reach new levels by increasing their skills.
When we enable others to go beyond the boundaries of everyday tasks, we help them reach new heights. People feel more valued because they are able to show value. They feel more fulfilled in the work they do and more valued in the work environment.
And when they feel that way, when their job is giving them other skills that a job elsewhere could give them, they tend to stay with your company. /INC/monitor/
