3 Tips to Re-Engage Yourself at Your Work
While some of the blame for this disengaged state of affairs can be placed at the feet of employers, they are not solely responsible. Environmental factors, such as the state of the economy and competition in an industry can contribute to low engagement levels within a company.
And personal choice plays a role, too — for example, did you make a bad career or company choice which hasn’t worked out well for you? Are you persisting with a dead end job? Then you’re likely disengaged.
Luckily, there are also many things that you can do to help re-engage yourself in your career. Here are three tips on doing just that:
1. Reassess Your Career Choices and Set New Career Goals
According to a study conducted by investment company Scottish Widows, 9 out of 10 people in the U.K. regret rushing their career choice. In the U.S., around 77 percent of workers regret their career decisions, according to a study from Officebroker.com.
Given these stats, there is a good chance that many of you may be in a career that isn’t a good fit for you, thanks to a bad career choice you made at some time in the past. If you’re disengaged, this could be the reason for your boredom.
Of course, the answer may be a little simpler: you may have just grown bored with your current job.
Whatever the reason for your disengagement, there is the chance that you, rather than the company for which you work, are responsible. The first step toward re-engagement may be an honest appraisal of your own priorities and goals. Such an appraisal may produce new career and life goals for you to pursue — goals that can drive your re-engagement.
2. Understand the Purpose of Your Job and How It Contributes to Organizational Success
According to a study from Towers Watson, 88 percent of highly engaged employees understand how their jobs contribute to the organization’s success, compared to just 38 percent of disengaged employees. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to do whatever you can to understand and appreciate how your role connects with the overall value and success of the business. Once you know how you contribute to organizational success, you will likely boost your own sense of value, purpose, and overall engagement.
The study also found that employees who understood business goals and plans to meet those goals were far more engaged than those who did not. Stay abreast of company and industry news and performance reports, attend and engage in “lunch and learn” events, and don’t be afraid to have serious discussions about business plans ans strategies with senior managers. Always know where the ship is going and how your job helps the ship get there faster. Don’t just be a passenger.
3. Try to Work for an Employer or Team That You Are Proud Of
It’s easy to moan and groan under your breath about the ethics and/or actions of your employer without doing anything about it. However, Towers Watson study mentioned above found that one of the top five drivers of engagement was an organization’s image. If you continue to labor in an organization that you do not respect, you will seriously damage your motivation and engagement levels.
Try to choose companies or departments that have positive images in the eyes of the public — or at least within industry circles — and you will find that you are more inspired and engaged at work every day.