Surfers have an innate understanding that riding a wave requires a deep engagement with the ocean’s energy. Similarly, in organizations, an engaged team focuses the collective energy of purpose, and can ride a powerful wave together, towards attaining corporate goals.
What is engagement in an organization?
Gallup defines employee engagement as the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in their work and workplace.
As an athlete, entrepreneur and author, I understand the importance of engagement in achieving success – engagement with core values, engagement with life purpose, engagement with passion, engagement with others, and engagement with organizational mission. A disengaged team is a dysfunctional team.
Having spent a lifetime in the ocean and decades in business I have learned there are fundamental lessons about engagement that cross over from water to dry land.
- Energized Performance and Flow:
When surfers ride a wave at the outer edge of their ability, when they feel they are at one with wave, they experience what renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls, “a state of flow”— a transcendent merging of their skills and the ocean’s power – all while in a highly focused mental state. Similarly, an engaged team operates in a state of heightened awareness. Team members who are fully engaged bring their best selves to the table, combining their expertise with a sense of purpose and passion. This synergy leads to exceptional performance and a sense of effortless achievement, like riding a wave with style and grace. - Stoke and Collective Spirit:
Surfing is not just an individual pursuit; it is deeply rooted in a vibrant community and a culture of shared stoke – the feeling of exuberance and exhilaration unique to all surfers, no matter how proficient. Likewise, an engaged team creates an environment filled with camaraderie and collective spirit. Team members who feel connected and valued form a supportive community that fuels motivation, energy and enthusiasm. This shared stoke enhances collaboration, fosters trust, and strengthens the bonds within the team, resulting in a unified force inspired to overcoming the challenges of a turbulent business environment. - Innovation and Adaptability:
Surfers constantly adapt to the ever-changing nature of the ocean. Similarly, engaged teams possess a remarkable ability to innovate and adapt in the face of shifting tides and market dynamics. Engaged employees embrace change, bring fresh perspectives, and proactively seek creative solutions. They embody the surfer’s mindset of embracing uncertainty, which allows them to react to the turbulent waves of uncertainty in market conditions. - Inspired Customer Connections:
Surfers understand the importance of connecting with the wave’s energy. And they understand how important it is to watch out beyond the next wave, to look out for the wellbeing of other surfers too. Similarly, engaged teams forge deep and caring connections with customers, going way beyond transactional interactions. Engaged employees bring genuine passion and care to their customer relationships, creating meaningful connections that foster loyalty and trust. Engaged teams provide exceptional customer experiences that leave a lasting impact. - Resilience and Mental Well-being:
Surfing teaches us resilience in the face of adversity. As surfers, we always paddle back out, no matter how severe the wipeout. Similarly, an engaged team possesses a resilient spirit that can spring back from any setback. Engaged employees are more equipped to handle challenges, misfortune, and stress, thanks to their sense of purpose and connection to their work. They navigate turbulence with determination and hope, and bounce back stronger, ensuring the well-being of the team and fostering a positive work environment.
I have witnessed the transformative power of engagement both in the waves and within organizations. An engaged team possesses the energy, unity, enthusiasm, passion, and adaptability required to ride the wave of success. By embracing the lessons from the ocean—energized performance, shared stoke, innovation, inspired customer connections, and resilience—organizations can create an environment where team members thrive.
So, let’s paddle out together, catch the wave of engagement, and embark on a stoked ride toward sustained success and team member wellbeing.
