People manager’s usually resolve to increase and improve their employees’ engagement in their work.

The question often is “How?”

Here are 7 resolutions for managers to adopt in 2010. Exercised energetically and continually throughout the year, they will help boost and broaden employee engagement.

Reminder: all the evidence says that greater engagement means greater performance, greater results, greater success. Who doesn’t want that?

Set an Engagement Goal. Mark Twain said the first step to getting what you want is deciding what you want to get. How and how much do you want your employee engagement to grow in 2010? Every employee’s level of engagement? More “high level engagement” among employees?

Invite suggestions for goal achievement. Let others know of your Engagement Goal. Ask for their input, suggestions, constructive criticism. Be sure you hear from those who will be instrumental in reaching the goal destination: your employees.

Create commitment. Combine communication, psychology, personal interest (yours and theirs) to stimulate commitment among employees to reach the goal. This single step requires significant research because the more information you can provide along with enthusiasm and encouragement, the more commitment the goal will attract.

Publish the plan. It’s more than a goal; it’s also a plan, an approach, a process and procedure. Get the word out. Be certain that every employee knows what is expected of him. Be certain that every employee knows what she can expect from reaching the goal.

Measure and share incremental results. The goal will not keep track of itself. Measure incremental success as the plan is in progress. In various ways (e-mail, poster’d results, meetings) let employees know how far and how fast they are getting to the goal.

Evaluate and update the plan. Like any engine, every plan should have a regular tune up. Allow time to determine objectively how well the plan is moving your business toward the Engagement Goal. Invite key players to assist in the evaluation and revisions/updates that may be needed.

Publicize success; point ahead. When you reach your Engagement Goal or complete the plan’s time frame, publicize your success. Use the degree of success achieved (120%…100%…70%…) to help you and your employees look head to 2011 and efforts to further increase employee engagement.

Yesterday’s posting offered 7 New Year’s resolutions for leaders to follow to promote better business performance in 2010.