Employee Engagement and Retention Strategies
Finding and keeping great employees is one of the biggest challenges companies face today. While perks and paychecks are important, true satisfaction comes from feeling heard, valued, and connected. That’s where employee engagement and retention strategies come into play—but getting them right isn’t easy.
Why Employee Engagement Is So Difficult
Many organizations struggle with engagement because they misunderstand what employees actually need. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report (2023), only 23% of employees worldwide are actively engaged at work1. Most are either passively disengaged or actively disconnected.
Common challenges include:
- Lack of communication between leadership and teams
- Unclear goals or expectations
- Weak feedback culture
- Lack of recognition and emotional support
- Disconnected or siloed teams
When these issues aren’t addressed, retention suffers. Employees may quietly disengage—then leave, often without warning.
Strategies to Improve Communication
To improve engagement and reduce turnover, companies must invest in approaches that go beyond surface-level fixes. Here are three effective strategies:
1. Foster Psychological Safety Through Empathy
Teams thrive when members feel safe sharing ideas, concerns, and mistakes without fear of judgment. Research from Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson shows that psychological safety leads to better learning and innovation2. One of the most effective ways to build this environment is by training leaders and team members in empathy.
Empathable, for example, offers science-based empathy training that helps people understand each other’s perspectives and respond with care—key ingredients for strong team dynamics.
2. Improve Communication Skills Across Teams
Miscommunication is one of the biggest drivers of conflict and disengagement. Offer training that focuses on active listening, nonverbal cues, and clear messaging. Teams that communicate well are more likely to collaborate effectively and resolve conflict quickly.
A study from McKinsey & Company found that improving communication and collaboration can raise productivity by up to 25%3. When employees feel understood and informed, they stay more engaged and motivated.
3. Recognize and Involve Employees Regularly
Frequent recognition and opportunities for input make employees feel like their contributions matter. Whether it’s weekly team check-ins, peer-to-peer shout-outs, or anonymous feedback tools, create structured ways for employees to speak up and be acknowledged.
Retention improves dramatically when people feel seen. Building a culture where feedback is welcomed and celebrated can transform workplace morale.
At the heart of all effective employee engagement and retention strategies is empathy. When employees feel understood and supported—not just managed—they’re more likely to stay, contribute, and grow.
That’s why Empathable’s empathy training is a powerful solution for organizations that want to build stronger teams. Rooted in research and designed for real-world application, their programs help companies improve communication, reduce friction, and foster a more human-centered workplace.