Written by: Vickie Sullivan  |  November 14, 2013

Find Your Nook and Cranny

Wow…this is a bummer.  Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace says that only 13% of workers consider themselves as engaged at work.  And that’s not the worst part.  “Actively dis-engaged” (those planning a mutiny) outnumber the happy campers by almost 2 to 1.  Makes me happy I work for myself.

Yes, I do see a silver lining.  Studies like these create the business case for engagement.  The problem:  engagement is a big word that means different things to different people.  It’s too much territory to defend.  It’s too big for one person — however famous — to own.

So whatever you do, don’t lead with engagement.  Your next big branding step:   drill down.  There is a gap between intention and the everyday interactions that either build up or destroy engagement.  Why is that?  What can be done to close that gap?  That’s where the nooks and crannies are that we can build empires on.  Find your place and pitch your tent.  Profit margins are built in the smallest places.