The employee experience is an important force that will shape an organization’s approach to talent management. The environment created when an organization focuses on making itself a place where people want to show up instead of a place where people need to show up is the basis for the positive employee experience. At the core of the employee experience is a long-term organizational approach that puts people at the center. Workplace practices are broken down and rebuilt to create greater commitment between employees and their organization.

Unfortunately, many organizations get so stuck focusing on engagement that they forget to take a step back to understand what causes engagement to begin with let alone understand the impact that engaged employees have on the organization. Millennials are already the largest demographic in the workplace and gen Z are creeping in as well. This changing mix of demographics brings new values, attitudes, expectations, and ways of working. Organizations have always had to adapt to new generations entering the workforce, but the overall sense is that previous adaptations were gradual and have now become accelerated.

The proliferation of mobile devices with global connectivity allows us to work anywhere and anytime. Videoconferencing and internal social networks allow us to communicate and collaborate without any boundaries. Today HR organizations are staffed with data scientists and analysts to help make sense of all the data they have on their employees and to figure out what other data can be collected. Employees today have more of a voice than ever before. Organizations that treat employees well will be better positioned to create a strong employment brand to attract top talent.