The Importance of Valued Voices in the Workplace [Infographic]

Fostering an environment where employees feel heard, valued, and able to be their authentic selves is crucial for engagement, productivity, and innovation. However, our Engage 2024: The Company Culture Report found some concerning trends:

• 43% of employees don't feel they can be their full, authentic selves at work, up from 35% last year.
• 55% don't believe their opinions always matter at work.
• Only 21% say their departments always communicate and collaborate well with each other.

Below is a brief infographic overview pulled from our report showing the current communication and collaboration trends at between leadership and employees.

Fostering Valued Voices

When employees don't feel psychologically safe to voice their thoughts, unique perspectives are limited, stifling creativity and growth. Poor communication between departments breeds friction and disengagement.

To cultivate valued voices, leaders must actively listen without distractions, recognize non-verbal cues, and create space for silence and reflection. Relationships require ongoing effort—use tools to understand individuals' workstyles and needs. Break down silos with clear communication channels and cross-departmental initiatives.

Most importantly, reward positive interactions and provide training in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution. When employees feel their voices truly matter, the payoff is higher engagement, collaboration, and innovation to drive business success.