“No, when the fight begins within himself,
A man’s worth something.”
– Robert Browning
I was speaking with someone a few months ago who would be perceived as a high performing executive in a large multi-national.
They report directly to the CEO and have responsibility for a lot of people and have huge influence on what happens to the bottom line.
The problem?
On the outside, nothing.
On the inside, everything.
“I’m not enjoying what I do. I don’t have any purpose. Yes I make a lot of money but I feel empty. I feel like a fraud. Every day I put on a face and tell the world that I’m the best, I’m good and I’m okay. But every night, if I’m honest, I go to sleep empty.”
How can someone with this state of mind and energy really impact at a high level in their organisation? They can’t!
The results of the most recent Gallup worldwide survey on employee engagement are sobering reading for any leader.
Worldwide, the percentage of adults who work full time for an employer and are ‘engaged’ at work (i.e. they are highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work and workplace) is just 15%.
Though engagement levels vary considerably by country and region, in no country does the % of the employed residents who are engaged in their job exceed about 40%.
The low percentages of engaged employees represent a barrier to creating high-performing cultures around the world. When you consider that business units in the top quartile of Gallup’s global employee engagement database are 17% more productive and 21% more profitable than those in the bottom quartile, it makes serious commercial sense to at least ask the question:
How can we help people get more engaged?
One of the answers lies in helping them craft a life and career that has more purpose and meaning and one that includes all of their life – not just work. A life that they feel makes a difference.
The trend for employee engagement is getting worse – which implies that organisations are not solving the problem. And that adds up to an incredible amount of lost potential and success.
You may be reading this and relate to the executive. If so, take some action. The fruits of any work in this area are massive.
You may be a leader reading this who has a clear sense of purpose. Realise that many of your team may not. What can you really do to assist?
A great starting point is to reflect on these questions:
- What’s important to me in all areas of my life? (Personal & Professional). And why?
- Where do I want to make a difference? And why?
- What can I/we do today to bring more purpose and engagement to our work and lives?
Doing nothing is not an option. It’s only asking for trouble.
Maybe it’s time to start the fight?
The reward is better engagement which means a better everything.
Shane
ps – My BluePrint workshop is one way to jump-start your Vision and Purpose. It runs on December 8th in Dublin. Last places available. Full details here.
Upcoming Events/Training:
Online Book Offer: Buy my book Inspire Me and get a free video of a 90 minute talk on State of Mind. Offer ends soon. Details here.
Public Talk: Nov 22nd, 6-8pm, Dublin City.
‘Achieve. Succeed. Enhancing Your Abillity To Succeed.’ – Hosted by Mark Kelly, creator of What I Know Now, I am speaking at this evening event and will be sharing new content not given before on the common mistakes made by people in achieving success and what to do about it. Great value tickets. Nov 22nd, 6-8pm, Dublin City. Details here.
BluePrint – 1 Day To Create A 3 Year Vision And A 12 Month Plan: Dec 8th, Dublin.
Join me at my popular visioning and planning day taking place in December for the first time. The venue on Friday 8th December is in Swords, Co. Dublin at the unique Emmaus centre. More details and booking facility is here. The normal fee is €237 per person but there is an early bird of €197 if you book before 9th November.
Recent Blogs:
Hurricane Ophelia, The Homeless And Opportunities. Read here.
Doing The Right Thing/Las Vegas. Read here.
Connect:
My Blog – The Eye Of The Storm: https://shanecradock.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shanecradock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaneCradock.InspiredBusiness/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanecradock/
