I am disengaged, how do I get back in the game?

1. “Remind yourself of why you joined the team or took the job in the first place. Don’t let the day-to-day frustrations detract from what you enjoy about your job.”
2. “Maybe you are disengaged because you are not achieving your goals. Were they reasonable to begin with? Maybe you need to re-assess what you can reasonably achieve.”
3. “Maybe you are bored with your job. Ask for more responsibilities or to join a project team.”
4. “What is something that you would really like to do and you would find exciting? Approach your team leader and see if he can help make that happen.”
5. “I always found that when I got cross-trained and learned different skills that I got re-energized.”
6. “Whenever I get disengaged I look at the bigger picture. Every job will get boring at one time or another. I start thinking about why it is that I got disengaged and then think of what I want to do differently and start thinking of my goals.”
7. “Focus on leveraging your strengths and what you do well. You are always more engaged when you are being successful.”
8. “Take the time to really figure out why you are disengaged. Maybe it is something that your supervisor or co-workers can help you change.”
9. “Don’t be too much in your head. It may sound simple but if you work hard and are successful you will be re-engaged.”
10. “Are you playing the victim? Are you saying things like people are keeping you back? Are you making excuses? You’ve got to empower yourself and focus on what you can do.”
11. “Whether you feel engaged or disengaged is in your head and totally depends on what you pay attention to. Pay attention to the meaningful parts of your job and how you make a difference. If you don’t feel like you make a difference – that is your problem and you need to figure out how to do that.”
12. “I realized that I was simply not playing for the right team. I changed teams and now I am thriving.”
13. “If you have a good relationship with your manager and have been feeling this way for a few weeks you should have an honest conversation with him or her. If they are a good leader then hopefully they can assist you in finding a new project, a new workflow, or a new perspective on work rather than simply telling you to suck it up and get back to your desk.”
14. “Jobs are like marriages – you have your ups and downs. Focus on the good parts of your job and ride out the feeling.”
15. “When I’m feeling disengaged from my work it is usually because I am discouraged or I’ve had a bad interaction with a customer. I turn to my team members and leader for support and encouragement.”
16. “A lack of engagement can result from taking things for granted. Step back and reflect on all the good things about your job including your relationships with your team members. Making a conscious effort to take a positive perspective can really make a difference.”
17. “I think it is helpful to speak with your supervisor asking his/her for more responsibility, different projects, or if you are bored, something more challenging. If they are not able to provide you with something that will help re-engage you, then you will have to do that on your own. Maybe volunteer to help with projects you are interested in. Sign-up for classes, even if this means you will have to pay for them by yourself. Learning is always engaging.”
18. “Get involved in activities outside of work. Pick up a new exercise routine, a hobby or something that makes you happy. Maybe you’re disengaged at work because you’re disengaged outside of work.”
19. “Identify what specifically is impacting satisfaction. What has changed? Often we are dissatisfied when the work is not aligned with our interests, skills or values. Find opportunities to build your skills into the work or specific areas of interest. Clarify your personal values (example: work/life balance, sense of accomplishment, working independently) and confirm that they are aligned with the work. If not, talk with the team lead to see how you can more fully align your interest, skills or values with the goals of the team.”
20. “Discuss with your supervisor what other opportunities there may be on this team or another that you may find more interesting.”
21. “Are you getting burned out? Do you need to step away? Take a vacation if you can and clear you head.”
22. “What is important to you? If your job is an important part of your career path then see the big picture. Be appreciative of this opportunity that you know will help your future. Work isn’t always fun, that’s why they call it work!”
23. “Are you disengaged because you are feeling overwhelmed? See if you can get support from your team members or supervisor and just take things one step at a time.”
24. “Are you upset about something going on in your personal life? Consider getting counseling.”
25. “Consider getting a mentor or business coach that can help steer you in the right direction.”
26. “Most people focus on what they don’t like about their job. Take a minute and write down everything that is good about your job.”
27. “In our organization people are really disengaged and de-moralized. There have been many layoffs and the people left behind just keep getting more work added to their plates. The way I look at it? I’m happy to have a job and I want to keep it, so I am very motivated to stay engaged and work as hard as possible. That’s reality.”