The next time you see everyone in your organization come to work, I want you to think about a recent survey that was conducted by Sibson Consulting, a human resources firm that tracks worker satisfaction. It found out of 1,283 U.S. workers, one in six intends to quit their job in the next year.

Why would roughly 17 percent of the workforce want to leave their job? The research found that neither pay nor benefits was the main factor in this desire but rather that the employees felt a lack of engagement with their company. Simply put, these employees were upset because they didn't feel they fit in with their firms.

How can you increase employee engagement? Rather than restating your company's values or mission statement, I suggest meeting with employees and finding out about their goals. Your goal should be to try to find if there's a way that you can help them get what they want and I think this should apply to professional dreams both in and out of your workplace.

What knowledge, skills, or resources do you have to help your staff improve themselves? It could be as simple as sharing an article you recently read that might be of interest, telling a story about someone who shaped your career, or discussing a mistake you once made and how you overcame it.

I'm always amazed at people who have a library's worth of life and professional experiences who never share their knowledge. By taking an interest in your employees and helping them improve themselves, you'll brand yourself as a leader who cares about people beyond an 8 to 5 job. Engagement leads to loyalty, which leads to your firm achieving a high level of success.

For more information on the Sibson survey go to: http://www.segalsibson.com/publications/surveysandstudies/2006ROWno1.pdf

Ken Okel is a communications expert who uses his real life broadcasting experiences to help successful organizations communicate better, reduce stress, and laugh a lot more. Contact Ken Okel at (561) 737-4321 or email TVGuy@kenokel.com to reserve your program date or to find out more.