Leaders and Managers are often frustrated in their attempts to improve employee engagement. Even with all our current efforts for improvement, according to Blessing and White's 2011 Employee Engagement survey, the average organization stands at only 31% engaged. I believe much of the frustration and poor performance stems from the misconceptions leaders have about how to improve employee engagement.
Misconception #1 - Managers are fully responsible
The first misconception is "managers are fully responsible for engagement" of employees. This is a contradiction because employee engagement is, by definition, an emotional response to the environment such that employees willingly exert greater discretionary effort into their work. Managers cannot create an internal emotional response. Managers can only create a better environment. The environment must offer a higher probability of the engagement experience. The major responsibility for employee engagement must therefore be placed with the employee him/herself. The employee must take advantage of the environment and all the elements that create engagement. Employee engagement is a joint responsibility.