.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} I was driving down Interstate 235 to work the other day. There I was with hundreds of other people all doing the exact same thing as me – heading to work. I realized it’s the same every day, over and over. That’s a lot of people committed to their jobs.

They show up, sit at their desks, drink coffee and get to work. The problem is that many of the people in this scenario are only committed to their job. They’re not actually engaged in their work. You’re probably wondering what the heck I’m talking about. I’ll explain.

Committed people show up on time every day. They get done what they need to, and then they leave. They’re nice to everyone; they bring in food on potluck Tuesday, and every now and again contribute something in a meeting. They’re not stellar performers by any means. They don’t go outside the box very often and typically dislike change. Adding any change or accountability turns the committed into the de-motivated.

Engaged people are quite a bit different. This word “engaged” has recently entered the work force and has become a popular buzzword. One of the reasons I believe it has become so popular is that as the ability to find skilled workers shrinks, we need people to be more than just committed to their job – we need them to be engaged in their job.

First let me say that engaged people are also committed to their jobs, but on a whole new level. They are truly interested in the success of the company and the role they play in that success. They’re thinking about their job, their position and how to add to it, redefine it and ultimately make it more useful to the company. They never “clock out.” They talk to their friends about what they do. They brainstorm new concepts and ideas all the time.

They take their job personally.

They take the success of their office, branch, division or sector personally. They don’t want to fail and want to bring value to the company, all the while proving their worth. If it’s about staying relevant, the engaged employees are the most relevant. They embrace change and will sometimes spearhead it, only wanting to understand how the change will positively affect the business.

As you can see, the difference between the committed and the engaged is huge. In almost every aspect of what goes on in the workplace, there are dramatic differences. As we head through this 21st century with all the challenges it brings, one thing has really never changed. Work. It always has been here and always will be.

If you are not engaged in your current job, you need to ask yourself why. But go beyond that and put a plan in place to become more engaged and more involved in your profession. Maybe due to management or some other internal issue you can’t be engaged in your current job. Find one in which you can. The choice is yours. This isn’t about work/life balance. This is about using the eight hours a day you work to the best of your ability.

Breaking out of the cocoon of your cubicle may not be easy, but just think of the view once you get through.

Nick Reddin is the business development manager at Manpower Inc.’s Des Moines office.