“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget, how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou.

Words of wisdom and an apt reflection on the human mindset. Multiple studies have indicated that ‘Employee Experience’ is increasingly a top priority for human resources as well as business leaders alike.

It is a candidate-driven market, how you manage this critical aspect of providing a wholesome experience to your employees will tie back to the power of your brand to attract and retain talent.

Companies could focus on the following five things to improve employee experience if they aren’t already doing so-

Seamless and personalized candidate experience – This is essentially the starting point of the potential employee’s lifecycle with an organization. It is said that first impressions are long-lasting and companies should pull out all stops to make this as personalized as possible. Starting from a user-friendly, tech-enabled application to interviewing and eventually the onboarding process, everything should be seamlessly organized.

Invest in employee wellness and learning – This can be the crucial differentiating factor when it comes to employee experience. Companies regularly featured in the list of most desired workplaces invest heavily in employee wellness and learning. A holistic approach around employee wellness including physical, mental and financial health acts as a motivation for the employees. Organizations should have a well-charted strategy around the learning needs of employees focused on providing accessible platforms to learn in a safe environment. This will give them an edge over the competition.

Effective communications– Companies should communicate, communicate and over-communicate, if necessary. An effective communication channel between an organization and its employees elevates the employee experience. The employees should be the ‘first’ to know of ‘what’s going on’ in the organization. To establish regular communication, tools such as - blogs, videos, chats, town halls, all-hands meetings, and earnings calls can be used. Companies that have transparency with their employees enjoy a high level of trust and a boost in the employee experience index.

Recognition – This can be the single biggest force to drive great employee experience. Everyone likes a pat on the back; it is an unparalleled energy booster. Companies should strive to build a sense of belonging within their employees and cultivate an environment that caters to the basic human need of feeling valued for the work he/she is doing. From birthdays to professional achievements there are multiple occasions to celebrate in an employee’s lifecycle. Recognition is vital for truly great employee experience.

‘Uberize’ Feedback – The last decade has seen the phenomenal wealth that the ‘experience’ economy has been able to create. The companies in this space like Airbnb or Uber are not afraid of feedback or rather they encourage two ways of feedback. Companies that provide a platform to give or gather feedback from the employees are more likely to boost the employee experience than companies that are less acceptable towards it. Taking into account all aspects of the employee lifecycle including general matters of the organization is necessary for good employee experience.

Employees are the biggest advocates of an organization. They should be given clarity on the purpose of the organization, and the direction of the business, to represent it better. The demography and dynamism of the evolving workforce are compelling organizations to focus on the overall aspects of employee experience. This acts as a magnet for attracting and retaining talent. As mentioned in the beginning, it is the nucleus of the strategy to win the war on talent.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house