Profit-sharing stimulates engagement by employees. But we don't see profit-sharing in the news much these days.

So, how about value-sharing? When employees can accept and share the company's values, they engage more readily and more fully. The company whose employees are values-aligned (with the company and with one another) achieves broader success.

Savvy businesses initiate values-awareness programs and projects that do two things:

• Make tangible to employees the business commitment to specific values and
• Provide opportunities for employees to engage hands-on with those values.

Here are four areas to consider:

Community service. Participate in existing programs that contribute to the well-being of your community. Think such relevant areas as education, housing, health and wellness, homelessness. Invite input from your employees; learn what concerns them and where they would prefer to engage. Consider National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) and Habitat for Humanity

Environmental commitment. Demonstrate your company's attention to the environment. Publicize recycling efforts. Promote a 'green' vendor selection process. Generate awareness of your waste management program. What else might you do? Invite ideas from employees. Provide stimulation and support for your people to take on their own, individual environmental projects.

Sustainability. How much attention does your business pay to keeping the earth livable? How do you make this known to all employees? How can they participate in or contribute to these efforts? Sustainability falls into such broad categories as built environments, water and ecosystems, energy and climate change, materials management and human health. Which areas are most relevant to your business output?

Customer good. Other than producing a valuable product and/or service, what good does your company provide your consumers or clients? Clear concern for a client's well-being, above and beyond acquiring  product or service, hits home with employees. Develop a program that informs all employees (not just those with direct customer contact) of specific care and consideration for your customers' good. That program should openly encourage and invite employees to offer additional ways they might engage in extending the customer good.

Select one area. Engage a group of interested employees in defining and designing a project that displays company commitment and generate employee engagement.

Stop by tomorrow. We'll look more closely at how e mployee engagement and green business/green initiative go together well.