Studies and surveys of employee engagement are mostly focused on how satisfied employees are with their salaries, benefits, corporate culture and other external factors. The question of what they can do for themselves to achieve greater engagement remains unanswered. So what can you do for yourself?
Marshall Goldsmith - world-renowned senior executive coach, speaker and author of popular books on personal development such as What Got You Here won't Get You There and Mojo - focuses on this question in his new book entitled Triggers. Using real-life examples from his coaching practice, Goldsmith presents ways to achieve positive change by taking responsibility for one's own actions.
Active questions
According to Goldsmith, active questions can help us become more engaged. The aim is to make us take responsibility for our own engagement regardless of external conditions. We will then not only be more engaged, but also happier and achieve measurable changes.
1. "Did I do my best to set clear goals today?"
Engagement can't be achieved without setting goals.
2. "Did I do my best to make progress towards my goals today?"
Employees who watch their progress are generally more engaged.
3. "Did I do my best to find meaning today?"
We have to be creative in order to find meaning in what we do.
4. "Did I do my best to be happy today?"
If our work is meaningful, we are happier.
5. "Did I do my best to build positive relationships today?"
If you want to have good friends at work, be a good friend for them.
6. "Did I do my best to be engaged today?"
If we consciously strive to achieve greater engagement, we will achieve it.
Book
GOLDSMITH, Marshall: Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts - Becoming the Person You Want to Be. New York: Crown Business, 2015. 272 p.
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