Is Employee Engagement a Managerial Competency?
02
Nov 2022
209
Author: Ada Tai, MBA, CPHR, SHRM-SCP
This morning, I attended a Canada-wide compensation trends webinar. An alarming study revealed to those in attendance that more than 37% of employees would jump jobs if an increase of 10% or more in pay in the next 12 months₁. With the rising inflation and the lingering effects of the epidemic, employers are scratching their heads to develop operationally feasible and budget-creative methods to ensure employee retention and engagement. It is no secret that retaining engaged employees is more affordable than hiring new workers. Therefore, fostering employee engagement has become an urgent employer concern.
Employee Engagement, in its simplest form, means employees are doing the work they are supposed to do, which yields evidence of commitment and meaningful, valuable results. The most common engagement drivers we often hear about include:
1. Meaningful and challenging work.
2. Respectful environment and effective managers.
3. Alignment of individual work with the organization’s objectives and values.
4. Ethical and competent leadership.
5. Fair compensation and recognition.
6. Open and two-way communication.
7. Pursuit of individual professional development goals, etc.
Based on this list, it is obvious that managers constitute one of the most critical factors that can either contribute to or crush employees’ engagement: the interactions between managers and employees and the behaviors that managers exhibit significantly impact the workers. Therefore, there has been a discernible trend toward demanding managers develop more people-management competencies in recent years.
People-management competencies can vary widely. What are the two fundamental yet critical engagement skills that managers need to possess?
1. Getting to know the team members:
Engagement is an individual concept: how employees feel about their attachment to their organization and how much they are willing to go above and beyond to deliver varies from one person to another. To enhance engagement, managers must spend the time and effort to get to know their staff. Getting to know the team can focus on a few areas:
I. Getting to know the individual’s background
Communicating and getting work done in a virtual environment reduced the connection between team members. Coupled with the fact that many people work multiple jobs to combat the rising cost of living, there is little time people have left to spend with each other. Getting to know team members builds the trust and connection that are much needed. When managers show interest in the team members, employees also feel more included in the work environment. They are more comfortable working with people they know. While getting to know the staff, managers should also allow time for the staff to get to know them and develop mutual trust.
II. Getting to know the individual’s strengths and interests
Knowing team members’ strengths and interests gives managers the requisite knowledge of their workers and how to assign/design jobs that will utilize their strengths and match their interests. Research shows that when employees are explicitly encouraged to use their talent to pursue a goal, individual engagement improves from 9% to 15% 2
.
III. Getting to know the individual’s challenges
The pandemic created and amplified challenges. Few can completely put their personal challenges behind them when they enter the office or log on to a computer to start working. A member of our organization who demonstrated superior performance had shown obvious errors and impatience toward clients. I did not want to make baseless assumptions or lose a great member who needed support. Because of our trusting relationship, I was comfortable inviting him to discuss the issues I observed. Without the need to know all details of his personal challenges, I offered support by adjusting his schedule and workload. In two weeks, this team member gradually showed improvement. After a month, he came to me and said that he had dealt with what he needed to handle and was now ready to go back to the full swing of work again.
2.
Obtaining resources and tailoring support to team members:
Each worker needs their manager in different ways. Some need their manager to be a teacher, some need their manager to be a coach, and others need their manager to be a remover of obstacles. Managers can tailor their support after understanding the team members' backgrounds, strengths, interests and challenges. Furthermore, there are times when the support that workers need is beyond the manager’s capacity. In this case, managers need to use tactics to obtain resources from upper management or stand up for their staff. Employees need emotional support and concrete resources to complete their work, especially if it involves multiple parties.
If you are one of the businesses experiencing declining worker engagement or productivity, you are not in this alone. According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report, most employees are not engaged. In 2021, only 20% of employees worldwide and 34% of employees in the U.S. were engaged in their work 3
. Since engagement is an individual connection to the work and the organization, managers play a vital role in their employees’ day-to-day experience. Managers who exhibit the needed engagement competencies are more likely to create a cohesive team environment in which employees thrive.
References:
1. Charity Village. (2022). Introducing the Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Report: Pandemic Edition (2022) Webinar.
2. Brian J. Brim, E. D. (2022, September 22). How a focus on people's strengths increases their work engagement. Gallup.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/242096/focus-people-strengths-increases-work-engagement.aspx
3. Royal, K. (2022, April 29). Who's Responsible for Employee Engagement? Gallup.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/265835/supportive-managers-relieve-job-insecurity-increase-engagement.aspx
I see. I hear. I experience. is a column created by and written by Ada Tai, a chartered member of CPHR Alberta. The column is written in a blog format where Ada and invited co-authors will present their own experiences and interpretations of the world of human resources and its impact on business management. This and the subsequent posts are copyrighted materials by the author(s) and only reflect their personal views, not CPHR Alberta’s.
Author bio: With an MBA Degree, a CPHR, and an SHRM-SCP designation, Ada Tai has been working as an HR professional in a variety of industries for 15 years. Through her consulting firm, Ada and the team provide various strategic and pragmatic management consulting services. Ada’s public speaking skills have enabled her to be regularly invited to speak about HR, people management, career search, and networking topics throughout the province. She is also a well-respected Instructor at the University of Alberta and MacEwan University.
Contact information:
- Website: www.badab101.com
- LinkedIn: adatai or BadaB-Consulting-Inc
- Facebook: @badabconsulting
- YouTube: BadaB Consulting Inc.
BadaB Consulting Inc. provides a wide range of human resources solutions, including Strategic HR and Succession Planning, Organizational Design & Development, Merger & Acquisition Support, Recruitment, Skills Development Training, Compensation Design, Performance Management, Workplace Investigation, Policy Development, etc. Another specialty of BadaB’s services is personal job search and career coaching. The team has effectively helped over 500 people to find work.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.
As the governing voice of CPHR Alberta, the Board of Directors meets quarterly to provide oversight and guidance in several key areas. The Board, alongside CPHR Alberta operations, continues to deliver on the association's strategic priorities developed in the 2020 strategic plan. To ensure transparency between our Board of Directors, members and key stakeholders, we are sharing post-meeting messages to inform the steps taken towards advancing our profession and ensuring a financially stable association. The Board of Directors met on November 27, 2025, and is proud to share the strong momentum we are experiencing across our community. The Board’s key messages are as follows: Membership Growth As of September 30, 2025, we reached 7,213 active members, a 7% year-over-year increase, with the majority coming from student and emerging HR professionals. This growth affirms the momentum of our HR profession and the impact of our student engagement initiatives. Professional Development Member participation remains strong with 53 events held year-to-date, with 5,013 attendees across workshops, roundtables, webinars, and community sessions. Our complimentary events have played a key role in sustaining engagement and access to learning. Annual Conference The Annual Conference was a heavy focus for the association in Q3. The sold-out event continues to bring together our community for valuable professional development and networking opportunities, creating a strong foundation for 2026. Attendees reported high satisfaction, with over 370 in attendance, and a sold-out exhibitor hall. “The CPHR conference was incredibly educational and inspiring. The speakers motivated me, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. I really enjoyed it, grew closer to my team, and I definitely want to attend again.” – 2025 Conference Attendee The 2026 event will be held at the BMO Centre, in Calgary on June 2 and 3 – with increased capacity, expanded exhibitor space, and enhanced programming will elevate the experience for all HR professionals across Alberta, NWT and Nunavut. Self-Regulation The Board continues to assess the implications of Alberta’s Professional Governance Act (PGA), including: Advocacy, legal, and governance impact assessments are being commissioned. Preliminary recommendations from management will be brought to the Board in March and June 2026, leading to a formal decision. Further information will be shared, when ready. Future Vision Approved: 2026-2028 Strategic Plan Our new 2026–2028 Strategic Plan will be rolled out in December to all members. The 3-year Strategic Plan, crafted from member feedback, market research, and collaboration with CPHR Canada – aims to strengthen our profession’s influence, amplifies leadership, and creates pathways for all members to thrive. Fiscal Responsibility Our Q3 financial review remains on track for a balanced year-end forecast. The 2026 draft budget has been approved – aligning resources with our strategic priorities while maintaining a disciplined and responsible financial approach. Board Governance Our board continues to focus on good governance practice, ensure stability, clarity, and accountability across our organization. FCPHR Nominations A reminder that the prestigious Fellowship Award is open for nominations! This national program recognizes Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHRs) who have made exemplary contributions to the HR profession. Recipients are granted recognition as a Fellow of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (FCPHR). Click here to learn more about the Fellowship Award, including the guidelines and completing your nomination. You can also download a copy of the nomination form here. The next Board meeting takes place in March 2026, after which we will again share our key messages. If you have any questions regarding these key messages or the Board of Directors, please contact chair@cphrab.ca . We welcome your feedback!
At CPHR Alberta, we believe that the future of work is being shaped by the decisions we make today. That’s why we’re proud to share our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan—a bold, member-informed roadmap that will guide our organization over the next three years. This plan is the result of a deeply collaborative process, led by our Board of Directors and developed in partnership with our operations team. It reflects the voices of our members, gathered through surveys and conversations, and is grounded in market research and aligned with the national priorities of CPHR Canada. Together, we’ve crafted a strategy that is responsive, forward-looking, and rooted in data. At its core, the plan is about strengthening the Human Resources profession and supporting the people who drive it. It reaffirms our commitment to building a resilient, inclusive HR community—one that is equipped to lead in a rapidly evolving workplace landscape. Our redefined vision and mission statements speak to this ambition, and our newly articulated values provide a foundation for how we work, connect, and grow. The strategic priorities outlined in the plan reflect the areas where we believe CPHR Alberta can make the greatest impact. They focus on elevating the visibility and influence of the HR profession, fostering innovation and leadership across our community, and deepening engagement with our members and partners. These priorities are designed to meet the diverse needs of our jurisdiction, from urban centers to rural communities, and to ensure that every CPHR has the tools and support to thrive. As we look ahead, we’re energized by the possibilities this plan unlocks. It’s a call to action—for our team, our Board, and our members—to work together in shaping the future of HR. Whether it’s through new learning opportunities, stronger regional connections, or amplifying the voice of HR in public discourse, we’re committed to leading with purpose and impact. We invite you to explore the full 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and see how our shared vision will come to life. Together, we’re building a future-ready HR community—one that’s connected, influential, and prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
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