Employee identification means recognizing oneself in the tasks, work, or values of the company. Identification is often also described as the "bond" between employee and employer, which creates a positive attitude as well as the willingness to go above and beyond.

The most loyal employees are those who are fully committed and identify with the company. But what does that mean? According to Simon Sinek, these are employees "who see themselves and their work as a reflection of what the company and they themselves stand for." Employees with a high level of identification thus experience themselves as part of the bigger picture. Company goals are not only supported, but understood as their own.

A company that has a high level of employee identification benefits in many ways. On the one hand, employees with high identification tend to be more motivated, which translates into a greater willingness to perform and higher productivity. They are also more willing to make extra efforts to contribute to the company's success. On the other hand, employees with high identification are often also better able to communicate with customers and other stakeholders and positively represent the company's image.

Identification with what?

Viele Arbeitnehmer identifizieren sich mit ihrer Tätigkeit, aber nicht unbedingt mit dem Arbeitgeber. Sie können vollkommen in ihrem Job aufgehen, ihn mit Leidenschaft ausüben und sich mit der Tätigkeit identifizieren, obwohl sie keine starke Bindung zum Unternehmen haben. In solchen Fällen profitiert der Arbeitgeber zwar von der Einstellung des Mitarbeiters, aber die Loyalität gilt dem Job und nicht dem Betrieb. Many employees identify with their activity, but not necessarily with the employer. They can become completely absorbed in their job, perform it with passion, and identify with the activity, even though they do not have a strong bond with the company. In such cases, the employer benefits from the employee's attitude, but the loyalty belongs to the job and not to the business. So how do you manage to get employees to identify with a company?

What you can do as an employer

There are several steps you can take to strengthen identification with your company:

  • Positioning and clear goals: Employees need a clear idea of what the company is about and what goals it pursues. Clear and credible commitments are crucial to gaining employee trust and fostering a sense of belonging.
  • Appreciation and recognition: An important factor for employee identification is the feeling of being valued and recognized. Companies should therefore regularly provide positive feedback and acknowledge their employees' achievements.
  • Workplace culture: A positive and supportive workplace culture also contributes to identification.
  • Career opportunities: Employees who have the opportunity to develop their careers within the company are more likely to stay long-term and identify with the company.