Being engaged in your work impacts your mindset about work, performance level, and the recognition/rewards you receive. If you are just beginning your T&D career pathway or thinking about a career move or professional shift within the field, then you need to assess what being engaged means to you personally. And, if you have recently entered “the greyforce,” then you should review your present perspective on work engagement and how it may have changed.

When truly engrossed in a work assignment, you feel fulfilled and that you are a committed, contributing member of your organization. It is also an indication of taking control of your career and managing your professional life. However, as you grow, develop, and expand your experience base, what was challenging in one phase of your work life, may not be so in another phase. Composing a statement that envisions your ideal engaging work situation will help to clarify what this means to you as an individual and whether changes in your work scenario are needed.

This statement includes your ideal:

• job description

• people you serve

• impact or outcome of work

• work environment and location

• organizational mission and goals alignment with values and priorities

• compensation and benefits.

In their book, The Executive Guide to Integrated Talent Management, Kevin Oakes and Pat Galagan outlined the following top 10 reasons people stay with their employer:

• exciting work and challenge

• career growth, learning, and development

• working with great people

• fair pay

• supportive management/good boss

• being recognized, valued, and respected

• benefits

• meaningful work and making a difference

• pride in the organization, its mission, and its product

• great work environment and culture.

Select from the listed reasons those important to keep your optimal engagement level. Now, review your ideal engagement statement and compare its description to your actual work situation. How do they match up: Perfectly, Good, Fair, Poor, Not at All? How do you feel about your commitment to your organization and work in light of your responses?

Think about how you will move forward along your career pathway. Do you want to remain with your present employer? Or have you concluded that it is time to look at other options and opportunities? The most important step you can take is (depending on circumstances) to keep up/improve your present work engagement level, revitalize/restore it by seeking a new position with a different employer, shifting your T&D competency focus, or moving to another industry to practice T&D.

If you are not fully engaged in your job, how do you expect to perform efficiently and effectively? Do not settle for anything less than having a sense of satisfaction for truly being a contributing productive team member. When you are not only able, but also willing to go the extra mile, then you will, indeed, have your ideal work situation.