Dive Brief:
- A new Culture Amp survey looked at what "New Tech" companies were doing differently to outscore "Traditional Tech" companies in employee engagement. The study found that 73% of New Tech workers said they were motivated to perform beyond what they would have elsewhere, versus 65% of Traditional Tech workers. The survey polled 200 fast-growing tech firms.
- The study also found that 87% of New Tech workers said they were proud to work for their organization versus 82% of Traditional Tech workers, and 84% of New Tech workers versus 80% of Traditional Tech workers said they would recommend their company as a good place to work.
- Culture Amp cites the top three drivers of employee engagement as learning and development, leadership and company confidence.
Dive Insight:
New Tech workers outscored Traditional Tech workers in the study in every category, in some areas by as much as 15%. Employees want good user experience on technologies. Employers that hire and or train workers in the latest technologies have an advantage in not only employee engagement, but also against their competitors in recruitment, hiring and retention. A good user experience on any tech matters.
But retention came down to more than just tech. The top 10% of New Tech companies more often have leaders that "communicate a motivating vision" (84%) compared to average rated peers (70%). Strong leaders make it clear that their people matter and that the company has a social responsibility beyond simply the business, according to data here. A good leader goes a long way in securing engagement.
To truly improve engagement, companies should focus on finding and developing strong potential leaders who exhibit empathy and flexibility as well as necessary business knowledge.