Employee engagement: what it is and what it means

Engagement is the investment of energy, attention and initiative in your own work — how much of yourself you put into the role. It is distinct from motivation, which is the inner drive to act (why you do what you do), and from satisfaction, which is a retrospective assessment. A person can be motivated and not very engaged if the context holds them back, or highly engaged but disoriented if direction and meaning are missing.

Distinctive: investment of energy, attention and initiative
Distinctive: how much of yourself you put into the role
Essential: investment
Essential: in your own work
Constant: is distinct from motivation

Glossary

Employee engagement

The investment of energy, attention and initiative in your own work, distinct from motivation as a drive and from satisfaction as a retrospective assessment.