The 3 Habits of Highly Engaged People

The term Employee Engagement is often missused. But, those passionate about their work create a ripple effect that is contagious. Energy, positivity and connectivity; these are traits that are undeniably admirable.

How do you get there?

How do you get to the point where work becomes a joy, where you enjoy meeting people, where your negativity gives way to some positive energy?

You don't have to quit your job, do palates at 4am or drink a hundred lattes. All you need is a personal strategy driven by genuine intent. Discovering your life's purpose through work might be more than an overnight chore. I can, however, suggest 3 things that will make every day exciting.

Do Something Remarkable Every Day
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Every Day
Commit with Greater Measure

To See The Sun Set
There are those who grind for 51 weeks to get that moment in the sunset once a year. Sometimes that seems like enough but you need more. You don't need to vacation half the year but you can see that sunset every day.

Take a Walk After Work
Find the Beach on your Lunch Break
Go for a Hike
Drive to a Hilltop
Rock out in your car

...we become creatures of habit and that makes our lives predictable, boring, & uneventful. You cannot invigorate your soul just once a year in cape cod. You have to find in each day an element of personal beauty. To take life in. To be thankful. To Reflect. To move forward with greater insight.

Step Out
If you sit next to me on a plane and ask me where my travels are taking me, the Ipod goes on....I am an asshole in this respect. I do not favor the guys in the gym locker room who stand around naked talking business or the lady in the coffee who talks loudly about her blessed life at 5am. In my book I urge the technique of easing your way in. There can, however, be a happy medium.

So in 2011, I will challenge myself to engage in that conversation on the plane. To ask someone how they are doing. To jump into a pick up hoop game. To swim in the cold ocean. To connect with a group of strangers over coffee.

Part of keeping yourself sharp is doing the uncomfortable...every day!

5 more
So you worked your butt off in the hardest of economic times to achieve your goals in 2010. In 2011, you have to do more. Even if you work far beyond what the standard might be....the extra effort is what differentiates the extraordinary from the regular.

Make 5 more calls, talk to 5 more associates, do 5 more sit ups, write 5 more lines of code.....

You define your true potential not by achieving your goals, but exceeding them, and redefining your self-imposed limits. This process never ends and you consistently evolve.

There are just 3 things you need to do every day to be that Engaged Person you admire:
smell a rose, say hello to someone new, do 5 more of the little things

Don't Forget to Remember!

- Dave