11 Strategies to Improve Employee Engagement as a CHRO
Employee engagement is a critical factor in organizational success, and CHROs are constantly seeking innovative ways to improve it. This article presents expert-backed strategies that can significantly enhance employee engagement and productivity. From customizing benefits to leveraging AI, these insights offer practical solutions for CHROs looking to create a more engaged and motivated workforce.
- Customize Benefits Based on Employee Feedback
- Implement Flexible Reward Systems
- Build Personalized Learning Pathways
- Conduct Regular Stay Interviews
- Connect Daily Work to Company Vision
- Establish Frequent Feedback Loops
- Empower Crews with Decision-Making Authority
- Foster Ownership in Electrical Trade Teams
- Launch Structured Peer Recognition Programs
- Leverage AI to Enhance Meaningful Work
- Align Individual Goals with Commercial Objectives
Customize Benefits Based on Employee Feedback
One of the most effective strategies I've implemented with clients to improve employee engagement is building customized benefits programs based on employee feedback. Instead of guessing what employees value, we start with surveys and focus groups to understand their top priorities—healthcare support, retirement readiness, student loan assistance, or professional development opportunities.
For one multi-state client, we redesigned their benefits program around what mattered most to their team. Within 18 months, engagement scores jumped by 40%, turnover dropped 60%, and referrals doubled. Employees felt heard, supported, and valued, which directly impacted culture and retention.
My advice to other HR leaders: listen first. Engagement strategies fail when they're built on assumptions. Ask your employees what they need, act on that feedback, and communicate the "why" behind every change. When people see you investing in what matters to them, loyalty and performance naturally follow.
Implement Flexible Reward Systems
During my tenure as CHRO, my primary objective was to leverage flexible, integrated technology to offer rewards that were seamless and personalized. We implemented a customized reward system, integrated within our HRIS, where employees could earn tangible rewards such as branded debit cards or customized items for specific accomplishments. This user-friendly approach provided rewards with immediacy and a sense of real value, as opposed to an abstract or bureaucratic one.
Participation accelerated as employees proactively checked their reward balances, reached milestones, and shared good news. NPS-type feedback scores improved subsequently, and sustained engagement growth followed. When employees trust that the system is straightforward and rewards are tangible, they engage more authentically.
If I had a single recommendation to offer, it would be this: don't underestimate the power of intuitive incentive systems. Make the technology sufficiently flexible to adapt to your organization's specific needs, integrate it fully into day-to-day work habits, and choose reward forms that are timely and personal.
Build Personalized Learning Pathways
One of the most effective strategies I've seen for improving employee engagement is moving beyond one-size-fits-all training and building personalized learning pathways tied directly to career growth. Research from LinkedIn's 2024 Workplace Learning Report highlights that 76% of employees are more likely to stay with an organization that invests in their professional development, and that aligns closely with the results I've witnessed. By enabling employees to choose from role-relevant upskilling and cross-functional training opportunities, engagement levels rose noticeably, voluntary attrition dropped, and productivity improved across teams. My advice to others is simple: treat learning as a continuous, individualized journey rather than a box-ticking exercise. When employees see that professional development is genuinely invested in, their motivation and loyalty naturally follow.
Conduct Regular Stay Interviews
Rather than being passive and waiting for problems to arise, I integrated stay-interviews into our quarterly administrative duties, alternating between different functional cores and physical locations. After consolidating the feedback, we noticed a lack of social cohesion between campuses. After two cycles, turnover dropped by 18% in our public-facing roles, and we actively promoted our succession plan, providing clear avenues for promotion rather than encouraging job-hunting outside our brand. Engagement metrics improved, and my advice is: do not just give lip service to employees—show them why it is worthwhile to stay and invest rather than looking elsewhere.
Connect Daily Work to Company Vision
When we were still a small but fast-growing team at Zapiy, I started noticing something subtle but concerning — people were getting the work done, but the spark in our internal conversations was fading. We were hitting targets, but the energy that comes from truly feeling connected to the mission wasn't as strong as it used to be.
Rather than launching another "engagement initiative" from a playbook, I decided to focus on something deeply human: giving every single team member a clear line of sight between their day-to-day work and the company's bigger vision. It wasn't about adding more perks or more meetings — it was about creating meaningful context.
We rolled out monthly "Impact Sessions" where department heads would share not just metrics, but the real-world effects of our work — a client story, a feature that solved a problem we didn't even know existed, or a user testimonial that reminded us why we built Zapiy in the first place. Then, we flipped the mic to employees, encouraging them to share wins, lessons, and even failures they were proud of navigating.
Within a few months, the change was tangible. Participation in these sessions went from cautious to enthusiastic. Cross-team collaboration improved, voluntary turnover dropped, and our internal eNPS score jumped by double digits. People weren't just "engaged" in the HR sense — they were personally invested.
If I had one piece of advice for others, it would be this: employee engagement isn't about louder communication, it's about more meaningful communication. When people can see the direct thread between their contribution and the impact it creates, they don't just work harder — they work with pride.
Establish Frequent Feedback Loops
We improved engagement by setting up regular feedback loops instead of waiting for yearly surveys. Every quarter, managers conducted pulse checks and shared the top three concerns back with their teams along with clear action plans. This built trust because people saw change quickly, not months later.
As a result, employee retention increased, fewer exit interviews mentioned lack of voice, and we saw more employee referrals.
My advice: keep feedback cycles short, make managers accountable, and always close the loop by sharing what's being done. Engagement grows when employees know their input leads to action.
Empower Crews with Decision-Making Authority
At Achilles Roofing and Exterior, one strategy that had the biggest impact on employee engagement was giving our crew a real voice in how we run day-to-day operations. Roofing is tough, physical work, and most people on the team already know the ins and outs of what makes a job run smoothly. Instead of just handing down instructions from the top, I started holding short "tailgate talks" before the start of each project. These are quick 10-15 minute meetings where the crew shares input on the plan for the day—whether it's how to stage materials better, address safety concerns, or adjust for weather conditions.
What this did was shift the mindset from just being told what to do, to being part of the decision-making process. Engagement went up because everyone felt like their experience mattered. Tangibly, this cut down on wasted time, improved safety compliance, and boosted overall morale. Jobs started finishing more efficiently, with fewer delays caused by overlooked details. Homeowners also noticed the difference, because a crew that's engaged and working in sync creates a smoother, more professional experience on-site.
The key takeaway is that employee engagement isn't about perks or motivational speeches—it's about respect. When people see that their input is valued and actually applied, they become more invested in the outcome. My advice to others is simple: listen to your team. The ones on the ground usually know where the bottlenecks and risks are. By building engagement into the workflow itself, not only do you get better results, but you also build a culture of accountability and pride. In roofing, where quality and safety directly impact both the business and the homeowner, that level of engagement makes all the difference.
Foster Ownership in Electrical Trade Teams
One of the best strategies I've used to keep my team engaged is building trust by giving them ownership of the work, not just a task list. In the electrical trade, especially as a Level 2 Electrician, the jobs aren't always straightforward. You're dealing with live power, outages, upgrades, and customer expectations that can change mid-job. If your crew doesn't feel valued or confident in making decisions, things can slow down and mistakes can creep in.
What I did was flip the approach. Instead of micromanaging, I started treating every team member like they had a stake in the game. On site, I'd walk them through the "why" behind a job, not just the "what." For example, when we're replacing service lines or handling metering, I don't just say "do it this way." I explain the reasoning—safety compliance, efficiency, customer trust. Once they understand that, they start thinking like problem-solvers, not just workers.
The outcome? The culture shifted. Jobs got done quicker because the team wasn't waiting on me to approve every decision. Safety standards improved because everyone felt responsible for the result. And the clients noticed—the feedback was more positive, and repeat work came in faster because the crew carried themselves like professionals who cared.
My advice is simple: stop thinking employee engagement is about perks or team lunches. Tradesmen want respect, responsibility, and the chance to prove their skill. If you invest the time to show them why their role matters, they'll step up. That's not theory—it's what's kept my crew sharp and my business moving forward.
Launch Structured Peer Recognition Programs
Introducing structured peer recognition programs significantly improved engagement levels. Employees were encouraged to acknowledge colleagues for actions that aligned with organizational values, using a simple digital platform accessible throughout the workweek. Each month, recognitions were highlighted in team meetings, and select contributions received small, meaningful rewards.
This shifted feedback from being solely top-down to a shared responsibility, increasing morale and reinforcing desired behaviors. Within six months, employee survey results showed a 22 percent increase in perceived appreciation and collaboration. For others aiming to replicate this, keep the process quick to use, tie recognition to specific behaviors or outcomes, and make the acknowledgment visible across the team to strengthen its impact.
Leverage AI to Enhance Meaningful Work
One key strategy that I implemented as a Managing Consultant at Spectup to improve employee engagement was leveraging AI tools and automation to remove repetitive tasks that drained our teams' time and energy. By automating routine processes using tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT for drafting communications and ClickUp for workflow building, we freed up employees to focus on higher-impact, meaningful work.
The tangible outcomes were clear:
- There was a noticeable boost in productivity
- Reduced burnout
- A stronger sense of purpose among team members
Engagement scores improved as people felt their time was better respected and their contributions more impactful.
My advice to others, as the Managing Consultant at Spectup and having wide experience working with founders:
- Invest in smart automation not to replace people but to amplify their potential
This creates space for creativity and deeper connections, which are the real drivers of engagement. Remove friction where you can, so your team can focus on what truly matters.
Align Individual Goals with Commercial Objectives
One of the most effective strategies I have implemented to improve employee engagement in large, matrixed organizations is the systematic alignment of individual objectives with the company's commercial goals. Early in my tenure leading e-commerce teams for global brands, I recognized that engagement suffers when employees do not see how their day-to-day work impacts broader business outcomes. To address this, I introduced quarterly business reviews where each department presented their achievements and challenges directly tied to revenue, customer experience, or operational efficiency targets.
This shift required managers to translate strategic priorities into clear, actionable objectives for their teams and to involve employees in identifying the metrics that best reflected their contribution. In practice, this meant digital marketing specialists tracked conversion improvements linked to specific campaigns, while e-commerce operations staff measured fulfillment accuracy and speed. The process was transparent and participative, ensuring employees had a voice in defining what success looked like in their roles.
The tangible outcomes were significant. We saw a measurable uptick in retention rates and internal mobility, as employees felt more ownership and clarity about their impact. Performance reviews became more meaningful, focusing on results rather than subjective impressions. Feedback from engagement surveys indicated higher motivation, with employees citing recognition of their commercial contribution as a key driver.
Through my consulting work with multinationals and digital-native companies, I have replicated this approach in various forms. The consistent result is a workforce that is more invested, agile, and responsive to change. My advice for leaders looking to achieve similar outcomes is to prioritize transparency and contextual relevance. Make it a priority to connect the dots between individual roles and business objectives, involve employees in defining relevant metrics, and celebrate specific achievements that drive commercial progress. Engagement thrives when people understand the "why" behind their work and see tangible results from their efforts. This approach builds both trust and performance, which are foundational for scalable growth.
