Managing "Actively Disengaged" Employees     Too often people have to work with others who have become disenchanted and actively disengaged. Actively disengaged employees aren't just unhappy at work. They act out their discontent and sow seeds of negativity at every opportunity. They undermine the work of others. They are not just indifferent to company goals and mission; they express mistrust and outright animosity.
     As workers increasingly rely on each other to generate products and services, the problems and tensions that are fostered by actively disengaged workers can cause great damage to an organization's functioning.
     The Gallup Organization estimates that there are 2.2 million actively disengaged employees that cost the Canadian economy up to $35 billion per year in lost productivity, including absence, illness and other problems that result when workers are unhappy at work. 
     A good manager will identify those who are disengaged and explore the reasons behind the disconnect to determine if coaching or other interventions are appropriate. In some cases, people will respond favorably to opportunities to reconnect and rekindle their interest and enthusiasm for their jobs. Most people search for ways to make their lives and work meaningful and only disengage when they feel hopeless.
     Those who are actively disengaged may thrive on the negativity and refuse to become part of any solution, preferring to perpetuate problems. If they repeatedly refuse opportunities to engage again, terminating their employment should be seriously considered in order to avoid further damage to staff morale and organizational progress. 

Leadership Actions: What Employees Want a Manager to Do     For effective managers, the path toward engaging employees and keeping them engaged begins with asking them what they want and what is important in order to be effective in their roles. Here is a summary of what workers responding to the a Gallup survey said they what they want from their managers:

     •  Focus me to my job
     •  Know me 
     •  Care about me 
     •  Hear me 
     •  Help me feel proud 
     •  Help me review my contributions 
     •  Equip me 
     •  Help me see my value 
     •  Help me grow 
     •  Help me see my importance 
     •  Help me build mutual trust 
     •  Challenge me .

Chris Wilkinson.                              

Certified Business Behaviour & Attitudes Analyst.               

Business Coach.

Tel: (905) 275-2907 (Mississauga).

E-mail: buspilot@bell.net