I find it fascinating how much time, money and energy is spent looking for the next business advantage.  I’m guilty of it.  I’ve read countless books on business, leadership as well as hundreds of articles over the years in an effort to find the magic bullet…that one nugget that will separate me and our organization from the rest.  We all know it’s never just one idea, one process, or one specific management style that separates one organization from another.  Success is a result of many business layers which are refined and tweaked over the evolution of a particular business.  The hope that drives me to find THE nugget is my educational driver.  Over the past six weeks I’ve be reminded of something, and it may not be THE nugget, but it’s critical to the success of any business.  It wasn’t anything I read.  I was simply being introspective.

In my humble estimation employee engagement is one of the most critical drivers of success.  Ask yourself, or think of your direct reports, how many times have you or your employees shown up for work in the last six weeks in body only?  Physically present but mentally and emotionally absent.   The past six weeks has made me realize that I was guilty of this in 2012.  Yes, the entire year.  As most of you are aware a MERIX/Paradigm management buyout was completed at the end of February.  The management buyout process began well over a year ago, and if I factor in being Chair of CAAMP in 2012, I have to be brutally honest with myself and admit I that my focus and attention waned in 2012.  I was not engaged in the business of running MERIX.  I was there, I showed up but there were too many distractions.  I only now realize the level of my disengagement in 2012.

My word, what a difference the last six weeks have been.  I haven’t felt this invigorated in a long time.   To arrive at work now and say, with conviction, today we get things done, and then actually get those things done, is an adrenalin rush.  We’re starting to move that big concrete flywheel again at MERIX and Paradigm.  To be able to speak to my partners about growth and future of our business is reminiscent of the way things were in the early years.  Knowing my partners are engaged once again breeds confidence, and that’s contagious.  All of this is happening because we’re simply paying attention and we have no distractions.

My advice to you is to be completely honest with yourself about your level of engagement at work.  Ask yourself if you’re just showing up to work, mailing it in, and really is work a comfortable place to kill time? If you answer yes to any of these you need to eliminate the distractions and reengage.  It’s better you deal with it yourself than your employer.  I came across a saying recently, once again looking for that nugget, that speaks to a level of engagement at work, and at home.  “Treat everyday day at work like it’s your fist day on the job, and treat every day at home like it’s your last day on earth”.

Until next time,

Cheers.