Employee Engagement and Productivity: Connecting for Success

Studies continue to confirm what Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) promoted decades ago: happy workers are more productive. Carnegie was a sought-after lecturer, a counselor to world leaders, and an author of best sellers such as How to Win Friends and Influence People. His principles are still readily applicable to achieving personal and corporate success.

Workers’ happiness can be measured by their level of engagement. Engaged workers perform better and are more motivated, putting in extra effort when their organization needs it most. These workers stay with their organization, reducing turnover, and serve as brand ambassadors. Worker engagement is the foundation for productivity and, in turn, profitability.

“Happiness and Productivity: Understanding the Happy-Productive Worker” by Dr. Daniel Sgroi summarizes a 700-person study in which researchers randomly chose individuals and either showed them a 10-minute comedy clip or gave them snacks and drinks. This was followed by a series of questions to ensure that the “happiness shocks,” as they are called in the report, truly made the subjects happy. Upon confirmation, the researchers gave the subjects tasks to measure their productivity. Productivity increased by an average of 12% and went as high as 20% higher than that of the control group. The researchers also tracked the effect of “real-world shocks” (eg, mourning, family matters) on workers. The results showed a causal link between unhappiness and decreased productivity. Sgroi concluded, “Having scientific support for generating happiness-productivity cycles within the workforce should...help managers to justify work practices aimed at boosting happiness on productivity grounds.”

There are countless ways to boost worker engagement:

• Use clear communication.
• Keep meetings relevant to all attendees.
• Recognize employee success.
• Provide opportunities for growth.

Carnegie’s suggestions include the following:

• Give honest, sincere appreciation.
• Praise the slightest improvement.
• Count your blessings—not your troubles.

Pharmacists who are highly engaged at their workplaces can have far-reaching effects on their surrounding community—via patients who have positive experiences at their pharmacy and receive excellent care. Don’t underestimate how much your compassion for, or encouragement of, a patient can influence a factor such as medication adherence—and actually lead to better health. As Americans are exposed to more sun over the next few months, they are more likely to develop related skin or eye health issues—and have questions about them. Fortunately, pharmacists are an accessible consumer resource on these issues, regularly making recommendations to optimize patient health. To support you in this endeavor, Pharmacy Times® is pleased to present this Skin & Eye Health issue, with features on psoriasis, dry eye syndrome, and self-treatment of minor wounds and burns.

You have a chance to make a difference through your engagement at every patient encounter.

Thank you for reading!