A recent Gallup Business Journal article reveals that employees are responsible for their engagement too. According to the Gallup study, 30% of all U.S. employees, and merely 13% of workers worldwide, are engaged in their jobs. There is abundant research revealing that managers have a key role to play in employee engagement, however the article suggests that personal engagement is equally, if not more, important.
Employee engagement is the degree to which employees are involved in and enthusiastic about their role and working environment. While managers account for up to 70% of the variance in employee engagement, the study reveals that engagement levels fluctuate substantially from team to team and from person to person within the same team. The onus is on the employee to fully engage regardless of the efforts of their leaders and managers. If the employee is not willing to fully engage, there is nothing management can to do to drive improved engagement.
Here are three ways to improve your level of employee engagement.
- Act enthusiastic. Dale Carnegie said, “If you act enthusiastic, you’ll be enthusiastic!” Attitude is everything. If you drive into work every day dreading the day ahead, it is highly unlikely that you will arrive with a positive attitude. Instead of grumbling about all of the work ahead of you, try saying aloud, “I am blessed to have this job and will do everything I possibly can to have an amazing day!” You literally must put on positivity the same way you get dressed in the morning. Develop a personal mantra that resonates with you and repeat it a few times during your commute. When challenges arise during the day, repeat the same words of inspiration. If you still find yourself lamenting about your organization, co-workers, roles or tasks at hand, perhaps it is time to search for a new role that will be more fulfilling.
- ‘Appeal to nobler motives,’ is Dale Carnegie’s 19th Human Relations principle. Now that you have a positive and enthusiastic attitude, consider how your habits contribute to your level of engagement. By establishing consistently positive habits in the work place, you are actively improving your level of personal engagement. For example, instead of meeting team members for your daily morning coffee break and exchanging complaints about the latest disaster, share a solution you believe may help resolve the challenge more efficiently and quickly. You may just end up brainstorming a breakthrough solution to present to management which will improve both your value to the organization and level of personal engagement.
- Be responsible and accountable for your own personal success. Engagement is a choice. Every workplace in every single industry has varying levels of stress, challenges and hurdles. You have a choice when responding and reacting to the challenges you face at work. While you may not be able to change the exact situation, having a positive attitude and feeling vested enough to propose and implement a resolution will increase your level of engagement ten-fold.
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