Creating workplace engagement

Engage with Mel Leow, MCC

Creating workplace engagement – starting with yourself

How do we create engagement in the workplace? Especially when a Gallup Report ‘How Millennials Want to Work and Live’ revealed only 20% of millennials are engaged at work. And since COVID lockdowns went a long way to destroy the human connection and engagement in the workplace for many of us.

Well as leaders, managers and coaches we are often focussed on others and less on ourselves. Coach Mel Leow, MCC, suggests that engagement must start with our own self-coaching. And he’s written a book about it called ENGAGE!

What a privilege it is to welcome to the Coaching Café special guest, author and long-term Open Door Alumni and friend, Coach Mel Leow, MCC. Especially, to share some of the highlights of his new book ENGAGE.

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About self-coaching

Self-coaching is not just a module in the Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching, it is a skill that we need to practice often. Mel suggests that this self-coaching is about asking key questions, such as:

How do I want to show up today?
What do I want to bring to my life (my work, my family today)?
What is it I am excited about today?

Finding your Ikigai

Mel goes on to describe that one of the key ways to find engagement, is to spend time in reflection. Importantly to find your Ikigai (see Chapter 4 Engage your Call). Ikigai is a Japanese word that Mel describes as ‘usually used to direct the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile’.

It can be words, or a sentence, and it describes what is at your core. Your guiding compass or true North. For Mel, he shares his Ikigai: Live. Be. Brave.

Mel asks us: what is your Ikigai?

Engagement in the workplace

Without a doubt, this focus on ourself pays dividends in the workplace. Asking these key questions allow us as leaders, managers and coaches to be more centred. As a result, our engagement in the workplace is enhanced. We communicate better with our work colleagues. We are better people to be around.

Engagement takes bravery

The other interesting conversation is that engagement takes bravery. Mel talks about it in his book, Chapter 7 Engage Your Brave. To spend this time in reflection; to ask these key questions of yourself; that takes bravery. In addition, it might mean overcoming some Gremlins (talked about in Chapter 5 Engage Your Beliefs & Attitudes). Furthermore, to take brave actions towards what you have discovered. As Mel shared, he has been on this journey, and it is worth it. You are worth it.

Get a copy of Engage

I already have my copy and I have read it once already. Now I want to go back and (pardon the pun) really ENGAGE with the book. That means, spending time in reflection. And answering the key questions that Mel asks throughout each of the chapters in the book.

I encourage you to do the same. You can head to Mel’s website or to Amazon to buy a copy.

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