04. What does engagement really mean?

Recently, I came across a blog post from @NoFluffJobs discussing employee engagement across different countries. The key takeaway? Engagement levels vary significantly by region, according to the research cited.

That got me thinking — and asking. I reached out to fellow leaders in my company and asked a simple question: Do you think your teams are engaged?

As you might expect, the answers were mixed. But what followed was far more valuable than the initial question — a rich discussion about what engagement actually means.

Here’s what we uncovered: We identified two common interpretations of engagement:

• Reactive engagement: Employees wait for tasks or actively seek them out from their manager. Once they complete the task, they look for the next one.

• Proactive engagement: Employees take initiative, challenge the status quo, and look for ways to improve processes. They solve problems before they occur and take ownership without waiting to be asked.

Personally, I find myself aligned with the proactive definition. It resonates with how I view true engagement.

This conversation reminded me of a key leadership insight: Before we assess or judge someone’s level of engagement, we should first ensure we share a common definition of the word. Alignment between leaders, their teams, and their leaders’ leaders is essential.

Only then can we meaningfully evaluate engagement — and take thoughtful action, if needed.