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Stainless Steel

Disengaged Workers, Save Yourselves! One Step Toward a More Fulfilling Work Life [Short Form]

If you’re disengaged, noone is coming to save you. You are going to have to find the “WIFM” (What’s In It For Me) yourself, because your workplace will probably not change before you are completely drained. Decades of workplace research has showered leaders and managers with good advice that seems to be falling on deaf ears. Let’s look at the facts and then I’ll share one important tip for how you can begin that journey of getting your work life back in gear. Small accomplishments build your confidence putting you in the right state of mind to make a change.


Spoiler alert: Today’s tip is to start your journey to workplace wellness by setting clear goals for yourself. Start today with a small one. Build momentum.

Yay! We’re back at work! Inflation made me do it.

This week I heard the rosy news that US unemployment numbers (post-pandemic) had nearly recovered to the low unemployment pre-pandemic. I’m glad we are all back to work. We have bills to pay. But, are we happy to be there and actually accomplishing anything? No.


Job: Do you like me? Yes or no?

An overwhelming 69% of workers in the US and Canada would answer that question with a resounding “No, Job, I don’t like you at all,” according to Gallup (citation below). They report being “Not engaged” and, worse, “Actively disengaged”.



So many articles. So little action.

I decided to ask Google’s AI experiment, Bard, for some advice. When I asked how a disengaged worker can stay motivated, Bard presented multiple ways your boss can help you like your job.

In more than 30 years of working, I have met many leaders with extensive leadership training, especially in the Air Force. Despite this, my MBA program posts and papers were bursting with examples of ways that my past workplaces did not follow known, best-practices. I'm not so sure the boss perspective is useful.


The bard has spoken

Google’s Bard also offered some advice for the disengaged worker to tune in to what is probably a crappy job. Here’s a sampler of the advice.

  1. Set clear goals for yourself.

  2. Network with other people.

  3. Take care of yourself.

I want to highlight “Take care of yourself.” While the Google Bard focused on eating more vegetables, taking care of yourself is more about your need to look after your own engagement.


Laszlo Bock illustrates the bad boss persona in his book Work Rules! recalling the stinging words of a crappy boss from over a decade before publication:


“You guys are all like arrows in a quiver. Every one of you is the same.”


So, your workplace may or may not actually do anything useful to increase worker engagement. You’ll need to take care of that yourself. Let me be clear. You are doing this for your own sanity and economic well-being. Don’t worry if your company benefits as a side effect. Obey the Bard. Take care of yourself.


3-Goal Exercise: Clear goals start today

Today’s tip to boost your engagement is to set clear goals for yourself. As Operation GTFO unfolds, I will provide you information that will help you to set more substantive goals. Today’s tip is simply to create a little momentum and get you to focus on yourself.


For this exercise find something to carry around. I like index cards for reminders. I don’t use them for anything else so they stick out to me. Just pick something you can keep handy and won’t forgot in the bottom of a bag. Write three notes on your note card and do them!


Note #1 - First Goal (Today): _______________________________ After this heading, write a healthy choice that you can make. It’s an easy win and you need that to kick start your motivation. This might be skipping a sugary drink or taking that after work walk you’ve been talking about so long. Whatever it is, keep it small and achievable. Also, do it!


Why are you doing this? To remind yourself that this life is about you and you are in control. And, this job is about improving your life too. No matter how important your job, you need to make room to care for yourself. I remember how empowering it was to me when I found a coworker to be a walking partner. I now had something to look forward to at the workplace that was just for me.


Note #2 - Second Goal (This Week): _______________________________

Set a work goal that matters to you, but again, keep it small. Maybe you need to complete a little professional reading, clear a messy aisle in your store, smile to 5 clients or customers when you don’t feel like it. Make a positive impact on the workplace. For me, although I had no further ambitions with my dead end job, I took great joy in helping coworkers meet their goals and deadlines. That gave me a reason to show up.


Note #3 - Third Goal (This Week or Next): _______________________________

Write down something you are very good at in your job that you can do this week or next. Depending on how beaten down you are, you may have trouble finding this. Your skills have probably diminished along the way in your crappy job that fails to provide you with challenge and opportunity. Don’t shake up the whole world, just do something you are good at. That could be as simple as resolving a single customer complaint, ordering supplies, or delivering a presentation. Find it. Dig in. Do it well. Don’t overthink it.


Additional Resources

State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report: The Voice of the World’s Employees. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx


Laszlo Bock Work Rules! Book published in 2015

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