We talk a lot about what companies can do to foster employee engagement. This conversation is important because there is so much that can be done, easily and inexpensively, by business leaders and managers to foster engagement in our workplaces. However, let’s not forget that feeling engaged at work is also an individual choice. You have to want it. You have to become the spark that generates light, focus, and pride in your work.

In an earlier blog, I referred to research that was done by Gallup, a company widely known for conducting surveys on employee engagement. In 2013, Gallup released a report entitled, The State of the Global Workplace, which revealed several findings about employee engagement. Of particular interest is the finding that engaged employees are more likely to be thriving in their lives overall—personally and professionally.

Now I wholeheartedly believe that companies create the conditions for one’s engagement to thrive, or not, in the workplace. However, this finding also reminded me of the potential each one of us has to manage our own work lives. This is good news! The individual choices we make each day can help us to become more engaged in what we do.  It means you can choose to be engaged—we all can—and here’s how you can make it happen:

Connect with your co-workers. Care about them and show this care through small acts of kindness and respect.  Engaged employees are more likely to have positive interactions with others and, chances are, if you are initiating positive interactions, it will be reciprocated.

Take ownership of your work.It’s easy to blame others for something that you don’t like. By blaming someone else, you let yourself off the hook for improvements and potentially miss opportunities to make a positive contribution.

Reflect on all aspects of your life. Is your lack of engagement symptomatic of a bigger life issue? In today’s workplace, work is not something to be carved out of the rest of life. Work life and personal life often overlap and become interconnected. Making positive changes in one part of your life such as choosing to have a healthy lifestyle, cultivating supportive relationships or volunteering in your community  will have a pleasant spill-over effect, in your work life as well.

Being engaged at work is a choice—your choice. Take stock of what you can do.

I’d love to hear your comments on what inspires you to be engaged at work.