You know a disengaged worker. He is your colleague, your direct report or the cashier at the local supermarket. He’s your client’s receptionist, the vice-president of marketing, or, he could be you.
Disengaged workers hide in plain sight, infecting departments, divisions and entire companies with a virus that promotes resentment, poor productivity and outright sabotage. People and profits succumb to this disease. So does customer loyalty – a critical resource that takes time and money to restore, if it ever can be restored. According to a recent Gallop poll, disengaged workers cost U.S.-based organizations more than $250 billion a year. Our own research has found that as many as 65% of all employees are disengaged.
It is important to note that disengagement and low morale are not the same. Low morale occurs when a caring, engaged worker becomes frustrated with his supervisors, workload, environment, company policies, etc. Poor morale can lead to disengagement, but disengagement itself occurs after the employee has ceased to care. He has mentally checked out, and emotionally divorced himself from the organization.
My objective is to help you identify and prevent employee disengagement, and to re-engage those workers who can still be “saved.” This may even include you! Unless you live in a parallel universe, you are every bit as subject to the same stresses, frustrations and emotions as your employees.
When you’re disengaged at work:
- What kind of parent are you?
- What kind of spouse are you?
- What kind of friend are you?
- What kind of manager are you?
- What kind of you are you?
Today, we understand that motivation – and therefore, engagement – comes from loving what you do. You love what you do when you’re in the right position, feel valued, and are being given opportunities to grow.
People want to achieve their highest level of potential. They want to be seen in the best light. They want to be fully engaged. Your people are your most important asset and, therefore, your responsibility. Get them to love what they do, and they are yours – fully engaged.
