U.S. employee engagement has fallen to a 10-year low. Fifty percent of employees feel a high degree of burn-out from isolation, feelings of distrust and being unaccomplished, and mental stress. During Elevating Employee Experience to Drive Organizational Success, a session at ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conference in Denver, Colorado, USA, presenter and HR expert John Nelsen shared tips for increasing employee satisfaction and what to avoid in order to build and keep a solid team.

Do: 

• Be aware of your and your colleagues’ best assets. What tasks make them shine? How do they feel seen and included?
• Clarify your vision. To ensure employees feel well-supported, connected to their colleagues, and passionate for the work, make sure everyone understands the mission of the team and the work itself.
• Adapt an intentional growth mindset. Psychological safety is the best indicator of success. What long-term plan can you put into place for each team member to envision a future of personal growth within and contribution to your organization?

Don't:

• Employ rigid structures and inflexible work arrangements. Create a culture of trust in which employees are empowered, not controlled.
• Stop continuous learning. Feeling unseen or stuck can lead to feeling dispassionate or disconnected from the work.
• Fail to embrace a culture of belonging. Employees that are encouraged to be their true selves at work also bring their best selves to work.

Nelsen says championing these changes are key to growth for both personal and organizational success. You can check out this presentation and more here!

About the Presenter

John Nelsen, SHRM-CP, PHR, is a forward-thinking HR leader, passionate about creating bold, inclusive workplaces that inspire innovation and elevate employee experiences. As the director of people and culture at Adams County, Colorado, USA, he leads transformative initiatives to reimagine traditional HR practices, placing employee well-being and inclusion at the forefront of organizational success. With 20 years of HR experience, John’s expertise spans culture-building, leadership development, DEI strategy, and talent optimization. 

Learn more about ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conferences, Innovations for Thriving Communities.