Are you fully engaged at work?
I want to say right up front that a lack of engagement at work is bad for you. Yes, it is bad for your employer too, but the negative effect it is having on you is my main concern. So, let’s take a look at this and see what we can do about it.
Engaged Versus Disengaged
Engaged workers are all out involved. They are enthusiastic, proactive and dedicated to making their business a success. They enjoy what they do.
Disengaged workers are bored, stressed, distracted, disillusioned and sometimes holding back from giving their organizations their full potential. They do not enjoy what they do.
Which are you?
When you think of a disengaged worker you may imagine the burned out cubicle dweller or the slacking construction employee, but I think it goes beyond this. In fact, I think there are also a lot of disengaged CEOs, managers, entrepreneurs and freelancers out there. Are you one of these? If you are, then this information will help you too.
Feeling less than fully engaged at work is a troubling problem that contradicts living life to the fullest. Your work engagement level has a lot to do with your success and satisfaction on the job. If you aren’t fully engaged, then it isn’t likely that you are going to be happy, healthy or effective. Therefore, we need to do something to fix it.
The Majority of Workers are Bored and Disengaged
If you are not fully engaged at work, then you are not alone. Studies show that worker engagement is dropping. Gallup says that more than two-thirds of American workers are “not engaged” or “disengaged”. Two-thirds! This certainly constitutes a major issue.
Bored and disengaged workers fritter their time away on the Internet, socializing, gossiping and going to make-believe appointments. One article I read recounts Joel’s story. He is a disengaged, mid-level executive who sneaked out of his office one afternoon to go to a movie. When the movie was over, he ran into his boss coming out of the same theater!
Other studies have confirmed what Gallup has found. Workers around the world are bored and do not feel fully engaged. They feel under-utilized and under-appreciated which leads to heavy dissatisfaction on the job and in their personal lives.
The Negative Effect Disengagement Has on You
A lot of articles address the negative consequences that a lack of engagement has on employers and businesses, but again that’s not my focus. I’m concerned about the internal agony it creates for individuals like yourself. This inward division causes stress which is a contributing factor to many serious health issues, but this is just a part of the story.
Overall, what I found about the effects of disengagement at work on our quality of life is very concerning. For example:
- An English study followed a group of healthy men over 10 years. What they found is men who were engaged at work are 30% less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than employees who are disengaged at work. This confirms the link to negative health effects.
- Another study found that, 5 in 10 engaged workers (53%) strongly agreed that they had gotten the important things they want in their lives, compared to just 13% of actively disengaged workers.
- It was also found that work stress had caused 54% of actively disengaged workers to behave badly with friends or family members three or more days in the last month.
Bottom line, a lack of engagement at work causes health issues, relationship trouble and reduces the likelihood that you are going to get the important things you want in life. In my mind, this makes it a serious problem that you need to deal with before it wrecks your life.
Of course, disengagement can also put you at risk for losing your job which is most likely your primary source of income. Without steady income, you are likely going to suffer financially. This can lead to additional stress which can further complicate health and relationship issues.
The whole matter can snowball on you very quickly which is pretty scary. Disengagement at work is obviously bad for you. There is no two ways about it.
Again, two-thirds of all American workers are suffering from some level of disengagement at work. This means that a lot of people are living less than a great life.
You Need to Deal with Your Lack of Engagement at Work
Don’t you want a better life for yourself? Don’t you want to avoid the health, relationship and financial issues that being disengaged at work can lead to? Heck, don’t you want to be happy at work where you spend a good deal of your time? If so, then it is time to deal with your lack of engagement. It is time to take action to correct the situation.
Keep in mind that the needed change might be modest or radical. Either way, the need to fix things is staring you right in the face. In my next article, I will explain how a lack of engagement at work is an opportunity and how to go about making the necessary corrections.
Photo by joshuahoffmanphoto
