Management 13th Edition by John Schermerhorn,Daniel Bachrach

Exercise 8

LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF
Is someone enthusiastic or lethargic, diligent or lazy, willing to do more than expected or willing to do only what is expected
The Personal Side of Engagement
O ne of the hot topics in management these days is engagement. You might think of it as personal initiative and the willingness to "go the extra mile" at work. Differences in job engagement show up many ways. Is someone enthusiastic or lethargic, diligent or lazy, willing to do more than expected or willing to do only what is expected According to Tim Galbraith, vice president of people development at Yum Brands, Inc., "A person who's truly engaged says 'I'm willing to give a little bit more; I'm willing to help my team members when I see they're in need'."
The Conference Board defines engagement as "a heightened emotional connection" with the organization that influences an employee to "exert greater discretionary effort in his or her work." Its surveys show that high engagement generates positive outcomes like lower turnover, higher productivity, and better customer service.
There is a great deal of variation in employees' work engagement, and in students' school engagement. Consider your experiences as a customer. When you're disappointed, perhaps with how a banking transaction or how a flight delay is handled, ask: Would a high level of employee engagement generate better customer service in such situations How about engagement by your teammates in your management course What do you see and what would you predict for the future of your classmates based on their engagement as students

GET TO KNOW YOURSELF BETTER
Ask: "How engaged am I in projects at school and at work Ask also: "What could my instructor do to help increase my engagement By the same token, what could I do " Write a summary of your answers. Discuss their implications for both (a) your remaining time as a student, and (b) your future career and your future actions in the workplace.