We All Have The Power To Shape Our Employee Experience

Employee experience is the next big battleground for organizations. It's crucial for building a place where people want to come to work because they are engaged and satisfied, not just because they have to be there. Many people think that employee experience is determined by executives, but in reality, it is something employees at all levels can control and shape.

A few decades ago, employees didn't have any power. If they were frustrated with something at work, their only choice was to go home and complain to family and friends because they could make any real changes. But today's world is different, and employees now have the power to shape their own work experiences. It doesn't matter if you're an entry level employee, mid-level manager, or executive. Here are five things you can do to shape your employee experience:

• Talk to your manager. Have open and honest conversations with your manager about what you like about your experience and what you want to change. Don't just complain; come with a solution. If you want to have more regular performance reviews, come prepared with a schedule and set time for regular feedback.
• Let your voice be heard. Speak up at work to make real change. Many organizations send out employee surveys to measure engagement and get suggestions. Respond to those surveys with thoughtful comments and share your ideas at focus groups and town hall meetings.

• Volunteer. Get involved in your company by joining employee feedback groups or beta testing groups. Put yourself in a position to learn more about the company and share your ideas with the change-makers.

• Use social media. Social media has given employees more power than ever before. Websites like Glassdoor allow employees to leave reviews and comments about their companies, and many organizations pay attention to what employees are saying. Use social media to share your experience and include suggestions for improvement.

• Rally co-workers. If you want to see a change in your experience, chances are your co-workers do as well. If you have a great idea, run it by your co-workers and see who you can get on board. Your voice is more powerful with more people behind it, so use your collaborative thinking to gain traction for change.

Don't just complain about what you want to change at work; take the steps to make real change. Employee experience isn't about the organization designing an experience for you, it's about you designing an experience with your organization.