If you think employee engagement is about free coffee and team building exercises, think again. Real engagement is built on trust, accountability, and communication. In the construction industry, where margins are tight and turnover is high, keeping employees engaged can be the difference between a thriving business and one constantly scrambling for workers.
One of the most effective ways to build employee engagement is through Core Fit Conversations. These structured, ongoing dialogues between employees and their direct supervisors help ensure alignment with company core values, career growth, and personal development.
When done right, Core Fit Conversations can drastically reduce turnover, improve morale, and create a workforce that is invested in the company’s success.
What Are Core Fit Conversations?
Unlike the standard once-a-year performance review, Core Fit Conversations are designed to be frequent, informal, and impactful. They aren’t about critiquing an employee’s performance or checking off boxes, but about understanding employees’ needs, challenges, and aspirations in real time.
A Core Fit Conversation should focus on:
- Alignment with Core Values: How is the employee behaving in a way that matches the company’s core values? Are things trending in the right direction?
- Career Growth: What skills or opportunities excite them about their current career path? How can they advance in the company?
- Personal Development: How well are employees aligned with their personal goals? Are they feeling challenged and fulfilled?
- Feedback Loop: What can leadership do to support them better?
The goal is to build a workforce that’s committed to the company’s success because they feel valued, heard, and invested in.
A Parent’s Perspective
When a young child is putting their fingers near an electric outlet, you don’t wait to talk to them until the end of the quarter. You intervene and correct the behavior immediately. Following up again as necessary.
A lot of people agree that safety issues must be dealt with right away. So why aren’t we handling performance issues in the same way? The reality is, most managers aren’t trained to do it. The Core Fit Conversation is a tool to help management know how to navigate discussions that build relationships, help with career growth, and engage their team. Addressing problems in real time fosters a culture of support and continuous improvement.
In fact, according to a recent article, teams who score in the top 20% for engagement experience a “41% reduction in absenteeism and 59% lower turnover.” If you want to build a team that’s fueled by passion and purpose, the first step is creating a culture where people feel heard and understood.
How to Implement Core Fit Conversations
Ready to bring Core Fit Conversations to your team? Here’s how to get started:
- Schedule Regular Check-Ins: Aim for at least one structured conversation per quarter, but monthly check-ins are even better.
- Keep It Informal, but Structured: Let the conversation flow. It should feel like an open dialogue, not a scripted review.
- Ask the Right Questions: Instead of “How’s work going?” ask:
- What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
- What challenges are slowing you down?
- How can we help you grow in your role?
- Act on Feedback: Employees need to see that their input matters. Follow up on concerns and show progress.
- Create a Follow Up Process: Check in to see how your team is making progress toward their goals and discuss how their concerns were addressed.
According to Gallup, consistent communication is related to higher engagement. To take it a step farther, they’ve found that holding regular meetings with your team means they’ll be three times as likely to be engaged. The most surprising part of this is that the method of communication doesn’t seem to make much of a difference, so make a phone call, schedule a Zoom meeting, or sit down in person as often as you’re able to. The more regularly you have these conversations, the more natural and productive they’ll become.
The Bottom Line
In the construction industry, employee engagement isn’t a buzzword, it’s the foundation of a productive, safe, and committed workforce.
Core Fit Conversations build trust and engagement because they show employees that leadership genuinely cares about them. When leadership makes communication a priority, companies see reduced turnover, improved morale, and a crew that’s dedicated to doing their best work every day.
