PPI has offered the Power of Full Engagement Inventory* to more than 70,000 people since March, 2003. The Inventory, like the book of the same title, is based on the concept that we must manage our energy, not only our time, in order to achieve top results in any part of life. It recommends managing energy by developing specific energy rituals in four areas of life: physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental. It also looks at the importance of rest and recovery in peak performance.
* So who’s “most engaged”? We recently completed a new analysis of the database and it looks as though Professional Athletes, Executives, and individuals over the age of 65 have the highest engagement scores.
* Who’s least engaged? The unemployed, homemakers, and people who rate their current stress level “very high” have the lowest overall engagement in life, according to the Inventory. If you limit the analysis to those employed outside the home, the least engaged are hourly employees.
* The greatest challenge for the average respondent continues to be the management of physical energy through exercise, sleep, rest, and nutrition. The average respondent scores 50% or lower on the practices that can improve this aspect of life.
* Who scores lowest on sleep and rest? Homemakers and full-time parents achieve only 40% on their sleep score. They are followed by students at 44%, and fulltime employees of corporations and nonprofits employees at 45%.
* In a separate question, people who rate their stress “high” have the lowest sleep scores of anyone at 39%. Interestingly, those who call their stress “very high” get 43% on sleep and rest practices.
* Who scores the highest for sleep and rest practices? Sadly for those of us still in the workforce, people over 65 achieve the top sleep score at 66%. Professional athletes do the next best with 55%. Note that both of these groups were in the top three Overall Engagement scores. The advice seems to be clear: Get your rest!
We’ll continue to provide more highlights on this fascinating long-term study. For more information, contact paul@performanceprograms.com.
*The Power of Full Engagement was published by Free Press, 2003, by Dr. James Loehr and Tony Schwartz. The Full Engagement Inventory is coauthored by Performance Programs, The Wenroth Group, and LGE Performance Systems.
