Work Engagement has been defined as a positive, affective-motivational state of high energy combined with high levels of dedication and a strong focus on work. (Schaufeli and Bakker, 2010) It is one of the most essential factor in an organization to have engaged workers, as they will provide the organization with high productivity, 'out of the box' ideas, extra effort, commitment and citizenship behaviour.
A number of research studies are being conducted on work engagement to find out the characteristics of an engaged employee, what makes a worker more engaged, and what are the several outcomes of having engaged employees in the workplace. This particular aspect helps to determine an important worker, a more engaged work team, the output of the organization. These, workers due to strong and hard work is beneficial to the organization and show better job-role performance.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGAGED EMPLOYEES:
1) Engaged workers have a better attitude towards overall work and organization. They want to be a part of every team, participates in formal and informal events.
2) Engaged employees often show more organizational commitment.
3) Also, more citizenship behaviour are performed by them.
4) They are much higher in belongingnes. These individuals share a good interpersonal relationship with both managers and other coworkers.
5) They are much easier and simple to work with.
6) Engaged workers are better in terms of trust and responsibility.
FACTORS THAT MAKE AN EMPLOYEE MORE ENGAGED:
The organizations always try to keep their employees engaged to elevate the rate of productivity. So, what are those vital factors which keep them high in work engagement? The answer is :
1) Job Satisfaction: Employees who are satisfied with their job, their workplace, job-role, coworkers and employers are more engaged.
2) High Interest or 'of purpose': Employees who are more interested is performing their task and find it meaningful or of some purpose are usually more engaged in their job.
3) Organizational Culture: If the culture of an organization is positive, employee - friendly, recognizes its worker's efforts and encourages the employees - likely the employees will have more engagement towards their organization.
4) Leadership: A good leader can influence the whole organization. A good leader can encourage the employees and improve the climate of the workplace. A good leader can increase the productivity of the employees and keep them engaged.
5) Pay structure: If the organization pays well then they can keep the workers engaged.
6) Autonomy: If the employees receive freedom in decision making and in performing job-role, that will promote work engagement among them.
7) Job resources: The physical, psychological and social job resources are if supplied adequately, the work engagement of the employees remains intact.
Work engagement is very much vital for the ultimate growth and development of the organizations. The current research studies are working upon to find out the factors which promotes the counting of engaged workers.