SCI founder Quint Studer at a leadership training event.

The Studer Community Institute’s 2017 training calendar is starting off big.

Employee engagement is the secret sauce that takes companies from good to great.

Satisfied employees will do what it takes to get the job done, but engaged employees will use their discretionary effort to go above and beyond what’s required.

How can you and your organization tap into that well of effort and goodwill in your own workforce?

SCI founder Quint Studer will share his insights in how to do just that with the Institute’s upcoming workshop.

“Capturing the Hearts and Minds of Employees,” featuring Studer, will be presented on Jan. 10 at Pensacola Little Theatre. The three-hour session begins at 8:30; doors open at 8 a.m. There is no charge for the session.

To register, click here.

“The businesses that attract and keep talent win, but it gets more difficult all the time,” Studer says. “There is no one-size-fits-all. The most important capital in any organization is the human capital. It is the best investment a company makes.

“This workshop will show a variety of ways to engage employees,” he says.

According to research by Gallup, only 33 percent of employees are engaged at work. The number one driver of engagement is the kind of relationship employees have with their manager.

Finding, hiring and keeping those engaged employees is a critical investment for companies that pays off in very well ways.

Gallup found that companies that boost their employee engagement numbers see:

— 87 percent lower turnover.

— a 20 percent increase in sales when top performers are hired.

— 29 percent profit increased for many strength-based workplaces.

At the Jan. 10 session you will learn:

— How best to explain “the why”

— How to understand your employees “what”

— How to be a storyteller and communicate with clarity and consistency

— What tools and tactics can help you capture the hearts and minds of employees.

SCI training and development is designed to benefit all leaders as well as employees looking to develop their skills, take on new challenges and responsibilities.

Seating is limited for this event, says Rachael Gillette, director of professional development for SCI.

“Employee engagement is absolutely critical to the success of a company, but it is among the most challenging aspects to get right,” Gillette says. “The session Quint will lead on Jan. 10 will give those who attend a great jump-start on this important topic for the new year.”