Employee Engagement and Internal Branding require a sequential framework and process. Without it your efforts will likely fail

Posted by Allan Steinmetz on 23 June 2015

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This is the fourth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about setting clear goals and objectives. In this post I will discuss the importance of following a codified sequential framework and process.

For effective brand alignment to occur there has to be a process that follows a sequential framework. Each sequential step requires a variety of tactics that move people through a funnel of being informed, building commitment and changing behavior. One-off tactics and random tactics get you nowhere. They will rarely be sustainable nor will they achieve your goals.

Employee engagement is a sequential process. First is building awareness for why this initiative is important to the company through experiential senior leadership communications. This is then followed by training/education and often gamification platforms about why this change is important to individuals and what it means to them in their careers. This phase is then followed by steps that build commitment through social peer- to- peer communication, which encourages the changing behaviors among employees to take on a viral life of their own. And lastly, once change occurs, employees should be recognized and rewarded for changing behavior in accordance with the company objectives.

Instead of treating employee engagement as a process following this framework, companies often treat employee engagement and brand alignment as a deliverable without any sequential order. This “check off the box” strategy often fails. Companies must remember that employees are emotional and seek to be valued, have a voice, and to feel appreciated for their contributions. Establishing an employee engagement sequential framework and process raises the caliber of employee engagement; which ultimately has an impact on productivity, return on investment and substantial shareholder value.

If you would like to see more information on our Inward Dialogue® Marketing® sequential process please visit our website and asked to receive a copy of building the case for employee brand engagement PowerPoint presentation.