The phrase "engaged employee" sounds a bit pejorative when translated literally into Czech. It is not so long ago that engagement meant active support of the Communist regime. However, employee engagement has become one of the most important challenges of people management today. An employee is truly engaged when he or she is actively involved in work, strongly motivated and enthusiastic. Let's test the level of your engagement with us.
The recent Gallup study entitled State of the Global Workplace, which examined employee engagement in 142 countries, including the Czech Republic, showed that only 13% of employees worldwide are engaged. You can read why in this article.
Try Gallup Q12
Respondents to this study, which is one of the largest studies on employee engagement, answered 12 questions related to their performance and job satisfaction. It was a specifically assembled set of statements known as the Gallup Q 12. Respondents assess their agreement with the statements on a scale from 1 to 5.
For our purposes, it's enough to answer yes or no. It can be a practical guide on what you should improve or talk about with your superiors.
1. "I know what is expected of me at work."
2. "I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right."
3. "At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day."
4. "In the past seven days, I have received recognition or praise for good work."
5. "My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person."
6. "There is someone at work who encourages my development."
7. "At work, my opinions seem to count."
8. "The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important."
9. "My associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work."
10. "I have a best friend at work."
11. "In the past six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress."
12. "In the past year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow."
The more negative answers, the less engaged are you at work and the worse your team operates. Try to think about what you can improve. Also try to find out how engaged your subordinates are. How would they respond?
-kk-