Do you have more 'eager beavers' or 'complacement cows'?

I am still finding many people are unclear about the distinctions between attraction, retention and engagement. On the surface they can be seen to be very similar, especially retention and engagement, yet they are very different.

1. ATTRACTION
Attraction is about how you recruit and hire the right people into an organisation at the right time via techniques such as recruitment and employee branding strategies

ISSUE: Continually breaking in new employees is no way for your company to continue being competitive.

2. RETENTION
Retention is about making sure they stay in the company. They may stay, but not necessarily be engaged. Typically about 60-80% of your workforce will be retained.

ISSUE: Some employees quit and leave - the really bad news is others quit and stay

3. ENGAGEMENT

Engaged employees usually only make up about 20% of your team. Engagement is about making sure they not only stay but are passionate about the company and the work they do and are therefore more committed and productive. Employee engagement is the extent that employees are committed to the success of a business, believe in its values, are fulfilled and passionate, feel pride in working for their organisation and are motivated to go the extra mile.

Engagement is the heart and mind connection between employee and work. It is basically having the right people in the right place at the right time and at the right price. If you are engaged you will probably be retained. But you can be retained and not necessarily engaged. Engagement is about having an employee who is an "eager beaver" whereas retention can mean you may keep "complacent cows", who are just doing their job but not engaged.

ISSUE: Employee Engagement = Increased performance = Improved productivity = Greater profitability