Commitment to work

Definition, importance and tips to improve work commitment

Commitment to work

Definition: Commitment to work or work commitment is defined as the level of enthusiasm an employee has towards his/her tasks assigned at a workplace. It is the feeling of responsibility that a person has towards the goals, mission, and vision of the organization he/she is associated with.

High levels of employee satisfaction in an organization are related to work commitment and engagement in their organization. This results in superior business performance, which in turn results in increased profitability, productivity, employee retention and overall improvement in the work atmosphere.  

That’s the level of commitment any organization would expect from their employees right? But most great things in this world is achieved by perseverance, hard work, and dedication. All these qualities don’t just show up in a day.

A person develops these qualities over the years. The same goes for organizations, if an organization expects their employees to perform exceptionally well then they will have to provide a work environment that will help increase commitment to work.

How to improve commitment to work

Improving work commitment cannot happen in just one day. It takes time to bring superior levels of commitment at work. Here are some of the things organizations can incorporate to bring in effective and immediate changes:

Build a strong team

Teamwork does wonder! Organizations must build a culture where working in teams should be important. Achieving targets together makes difficult tasks look easily achievable. Teamwork depends on how well employees are able to interact with each other and work in tandem, how well they can perform as a group. An organization can know if teamwork is the answer to problems can use teamwork surveys. These surveys will record all the responses and feedback which can be later evaluated and analyzed.

Let your employees know what you expect from them

Hard-working employees are an asset to an organization. Most employees want to be a part of a success story of the organization they are associated with. Therefore, it is important to communicate clearly the goals, vision, and mission clearly to the employees. This way employees would know what the organization expects of them. Clarity of thoughts is important at least during the tenure for which the employee is associated with the organization. With clarity comes the determination to work and achieve excellence.

Promote a culture of transparency

Let there be transparency in the organization. Let the employees participate freely in the discussions, important decisions related to employees, and an important contribution they can make towards the organization. When an organization keeps employees informed, they feel valued and trustworthy. This increases their sense of belonging and in turn increases commitment to work.

Encourage open and free communication

Open and free communication in an organization facilitates an environment of trust. Open door policy is one such way of promoting free communication. Alternatively, an organization can use employee satisfaction surveys, polls, etc to give their feedback to the organization.

On receiving this feedback, organizations need to keep an open mind to understand where they not meeting employee expectations and how they can improve work culture, without criticizing the employees who have provided the feedback. Put this feedback to use. Once employees know their suggestions or feedback are valued there will be an increase in work commitment.

Strong work ethics

Work ethics not only include how an employee feels about his/her job or career but also, how seriously does he/she take their work responsibilities. This involves attitude, behavior, respect for coworkers, effective communication, and interaction at the workplace. Work ethics demonstrates who and how a person is.

For many decades organizations have been working endlessly to improve their work ethics- honesty, integrity, and accountability are the three key factors that help improve workplace ethics, and organizations are strongly promoting these values at work. When employees witness such values in an organization they are tempted to stay around and be committed to the organization.

Culture of trust

What is trust? Trust is an essential factor that brings exceptional results in any relationship, especially at work and in professional life. Trust is not a simple nameplate on the door, a welcoming sign telling employees, “we provide trust here”. It encompasses a whole lot of effort from the top-level management and the organization as a whole to bring in and promote that culture in the organization. Trust is earned by putting in constant efforts in actions and deeds. When organizations promote such a culture, they have earned themselves employees who will truly impact organizations in all the right ways, thus increasing work commitment.

Innovation is the strategy

Let your employees be innovative in providing ideas, strategies, ways of communication, etc. Innovators are committed employees. These employees are always looking for better ways to do even the most mundane tasks. Such employees should be valued by the organizations and encourage them to come up with better ideas and rewards for their achievements and innovations.

Help your employees grow

An organization that helps its employees grow professionally and personally and respond to their ideas in a positive manner is bound to have people working for them for a longer period of time. An organization can support their employees by providing them with learning opportunities, cross-training, and any other interactive method that support their overall development. Such gestures help organizations retain their employees at the same time employees are more committed to their work.

Provide incentives

Organizations need to reward employees who perform exceptionally well. Every person has different things that motivate them. Incentives that are related to accounting and the results make employees feel important. It is important for organizations to recognize the hard work employees put in to achieve the desired result. Incentives should be assigned based on the criteria of the objectives.   

Celebrate success together

Employees need to feel validated and that they are valued by the organization. Leadership needs to show them, they are looked after. Employees don’t leave an organization if they know their opinions matter if they are treated fairly, if their achievements are recognized and if they feel they are an integral part of an organization.

Celebrate success with your employees, tell them they have made a difference, and encourage them to do better. Even the slightest gesture will lead them to do better with each passing day. This will lead to a better commitment at work.

Importance of work commitment

There are several reasons why work commitment is important. One of the most important reasons is it allows an organization to meet its goals and stick to its vision. Without a motivated workforce, an organization could lose all that they have earned over the years, be it respect or their market position.

Employee retention is a real problem, however, if organizations can make their employees feel valued, it leads to increase commitment at work. But without a bunch of motivated and committed employees, an organization can be in a risky position.

Commitment at work leads to better productivity. Image having employees that are not committed to what they do in an organization, catastrophe! Such employees tend to use their time at work surfing the internet for personal pleasure or even looking for other job opportunities. This is a sheer waste of time and resources.

Please note that this is only a situation and cannot be implied to all employees. But, an organization can surely end up having such situations more often if they don’t motivate their employees and help them become more committed to their work.

Difference between engagement and commitment

Commitment and engagement are different, even though there is some overlap. Committed employees are engaged, and it is visible through their actions and work ethic. They will be more attentive, productive, responsible, and energetic about their work.

While both terms are often used interchangeably, there are clear differences. To know more about employee engagement and employee engagement, view our other articles.

Benefits of work commitment

A committed team of employees is an organization’s dream come true. A committed team of employees is best for the long-term future of an organization or any business. The leaders within the organization are responsible for building that culture. Here are the benefits of having a team that is committed to working:

Increased productivity

Committed employees need a leader that will guide them, they don’t require someone who has to be constantly behind their life to get the tasks done. Such organizational commitment results in increased productivity at work. A compliant team will create their own tasks and ensure they are implemented. They will show up to work on time and do the necessary and even more.

Target is met

A complacent team will do only what is asked of them, a committed team will do that and more in order to meet their targets and goals. A committed team understands goals and their individual role in achieving those goals. They are self-motivated and set targets higher than that is expected of them. For a committed team, goals are not just a number, date, or target; it is a vision and journey for them.  

Bring “fun” to work

Put in simple words, a committed team brings in more fun to work. Commitment brings ownership and more creativity to the tasks. A committed team thrives on new and innovative ideas and it is fun to implement such ideas time and again.  

Value addition

Commitment at work brings in value addition through active participation in company-related discussions. Committed employees bring great ideas to the table and they are always happy to help others visualize those ideas. An organization needs commitment and dedication from its employees to achieve their goals.

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