Employee Experience Can Make or Break Organizational Success—Here’s How to Make it WORK
I’m sure we’ve read stories or been a part of these conversations on how, in today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, one thing remains clear: the experience you create for your employees directly impacts your organization’s success. Employee experience (EX) isn’t just a trendy concept—it’s the driving force behind productivity, retention, innovation, and organizational growth. Imagine a workplace where communication flows freely, transparency is valued, and employees feel a sense of connection to a shared purpose. In these environments, employees are motivated to contribute at their highest potential. They trust their leaders, understand their roles, and feel empowered to grow and develop. This sense of connection creates a ripple effect, driving collaboration, innovation, and ultimately, business success.
On the other hand, consider a workplace where employees feel unheard or undervalued. When communication breaks down and leaders fail to support their teams, disengagement begins to take root. Productivity plummets, turnover spikes, and an organization’s culture slowly erodes. A poor employee experience doesn’t just harm individuals—it undermines the collective success of the entire organization. Organizations that understand the power of EX recognize that it’s about creating an ecosystem where employees thrive. It starts with promoting work-life balance, ensuring employees can meet their professional and personal goals without compromising their well-being. It includes fostering a sense of belonging, where individuals feel valued, supported, and appreciated for their unique contributions. It emphasizes the importance of recognition, not as a transactional activity, but as a way to genuinely celebrate and empower employees.
Employee experience isn’t a one-time initiative; it’s a journey of continuous improvement. When done correctly, it fosters a culture where employees are engaged, motivated, and take pride in being part of the organization. By prioritizing your people, you’re not just investing in them—you’re investing in the future success of your company. So, what are the questions that we must answer? Do you know what it takes, and are you ready to make it work?
Gone are the days when employers can say one thing and hope employees believe it. Employees not only desire but also demand that companies practice what they preach, also known as “walking the talk.” When it comes to becoming a great place to work, creating a functional and supportive culture is the key to not just knowing what we do, but why we do it. This aligns with providing your employees with technology that supports the culture you desire, because, whether we like it or not, culture isn’t something that is fixed and complete; it’s ongoing and nurtured over time. After all, we are humans, and how we feel and believe today determines our behaviour for tomorrow. Providing the proper technology gives employees the support and platform to not only stay connected, but see that connection.
I think about how all of this stays connected, managers, or as I prefer to say, leaders. Healthy leaders create healthy and supportive cultures. In the graphic above, you can see that our new CPR (Culture, Performance, Recognition) Research states that employees are 50% more likely to understand their job responsibilities if they believe their manager is helpful and supportive. Which can only mean one thing: we must keep taking action! When culture is thriving, performance is rising, and employees feel valued for their contributions and receive recognition, it’s essential not to get complacent. Learn how to elevate it, and continue to communicate and enhance that employee experience through shared values and open communication.
Inspect what we expect, so your company isn’t just hoping things will work; instead, put action in place to make it W.O.R.K.
George Rogers is the Chief Strategy Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory. He is an author, coach, and globally renowned keynote speaker acclaimed for delivering compelling insights on cultivating purpose-driven, profitable businesses. As a leader developing inclusive and motivating workplace environments, he consistently provides transformative perspectives and guidance to organizations worldwide. Over the past two decades, he has dedicated himself to inspiring leaders and transforming workplace cultures.
In his book Champion Your Purpose, we learn that finding purpose in life looks different for everyone, and very few will find the exact common purpose that aligns the exact same. He provides a step-by-step approach to help readers identify their purpose and align it with their personal and professional goals.
His research focuses on leadership and its impact on performance, engagement, culture, mental health, inclusion, and belonging. If you ask him what led him to the HR space, he will remind you that his passion and purpose are championing people.
With over 25 years of leadership and keynote speaking experience, he has inspired, empowered, and challenged every audience —virtually and in person —to discover their purpose in the workforce, learn how to Champion Your Purpose individually, and lead the life they love.