Disengaged at Work? 6 Tips on Reigniting Workplace Motivation

Allied OneSource • September 20, 2023

Increasing job uncertainty and burnout have left many employees feeling disconnected. Whether it stems from economic shifts or personal exhaustion, it’s clear that employee motivation and engagement continues to be a challenge in today’s fast-paced work environment.

Feeling unmotivated and disengaged? You are not alone. However, rekindling your drive is possible with self-awareness. Let’s explore the roots of disengagement and discover practical strategies to breathe new life into your workday.

Disengagement at Work Today

A recent Gallup study on employee engagement revealed concerning results: as of 2025, only about 30 percent of employees report feeling engaged at work, while nearly 20 percent are actively disengaged.¹ This trend of declining workplace morale has persisted since late 2021, driven by factors such as:

Disconnection from the company’s purpose or mission
Fewer opportunities for learning and growth
Unclear expectations
Limited chances to leverage one’s strengths
A lack of care or recognition in the workplace

Younger Generations: Millennials and Gen Z

Employees under 35 have experienced steeper declines in engagement than older colleagues. This trend is closely tied to the impact of remote work, which often reduces opportunities for workplace connection, and career uncertainty, as younger employees navigate a rapidly changing job market.

Many are seeking professional development opportunities but find them scarce in their roles. In addition, the absence of strong workplace friendships affects their well-being and ability to thrive in a supportive workplace.

Gender Disparities

Women continue to report lower engagement levels compared to men.² This gap often arises from limited mentorship opportunities, fewer discussions about career progress, and systemic inequities.

However, organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can help create a positive workplace by fostering equitable opportunities for advancement, building mentorship programs, and addressing unconscious bias.

Job Roles and Industries

Engagement remains particularly low among project managers, individual contributors, and healthcare workers. These roles often bear heavy workloads or face systemic challenges, such as inadequate support systems and high-pressure environments, which contribute to their disengagement.

Many professionals in these roles feel they lack the autonomy to thrive, which impacts their ability to deliver client satisfaction. Meanwhile, white-collar employees' reports decline, with many falling into the "quiet quitting" category rather than active disengagement.

Work Arrangements

Both on-site and hybrid employees report decreasing motivation, with on-site workers in remote-capable roles experiencing the sharpest drop. This disparity often stems from a misalignment between job setup and actual work requirements, leaving employees feeling undervalued.

Remote employees, on the other hand, frequently cite isolation and reduced opportunities for collaboration as key challenges. Addressing these issues can help organizations build a more motivated team, regardless of the work arrangement. Professionals too can address these issues

Causes of Work Disengagement and Demotivation

Here are three key causes:

Lack of Reward and Recognition

Feeling undervalued can make an employee feel taken for granted and cause them to withdraw effort. They start at work doing their very best, but with hardly any recognition or acknowledgment over time, they stop trying. Recognition, even simple acknowledgment can reignite employee motivation.

Erosion of Trust in Leadership

A lack of transparency or accountability from leaders often results in employee disillusionment. People who no longer trust their leaders unconsciously create a gap between them and the company's management.

They would no longer support their leader's decisions and may no longer protect the brand they were supposed to believe in. This is not a good place for you to be, because a motivated and productive team thrives on trust and mutual respect.

Micromanagement and Limited Autonomy

Do you constantly feel like you’re not freely able to do what you want? Then you may be overly controlled or underutilized.

People want to do the tasks they’re hired for. Leaders who micromanage and feel like they need to control their employees' every move can hinder people's creativity and ideation. As a result, employees who experience this feel like their leaders don't trust them, so they stop giving their best at work.

Practical Tips to Increase Motivation at Work

Feeling disengaged at work? Well, if you want to feel great about your job, continue to do great work and yield higher productivity, here are practical ways to regain your focus and enthusiasm for work:

1. Reconnect with Colleagues

Connecting with others and building strong relationships at work can boost happiness and engagement.

Start by organizing or attending coffee chats, joining team events, or simply reaching out to coworkers to share stories. Sharing stories about what's going on can help ease things in the workplace, and help you find the people going through the same demotivating situation you’re in.

These connections foster trust and camaraderie, which can ease feelings of isolation or stress. It can also unlock growth opportunities and improve motivation due to a strong sense of community.

2. Gather Feedback from Trusted Sources

You can also gather performance feedback to stay engaged and motivated. This lets you know if you’re making a significant contribution to your organization. An ideal leader may provide regular feedback to their teammates, but some may not. The best way to get it is to ask for it directly through scheduled one-on-ones, asking direct questions like “What are my strengths?”, “How can I improve?”.

However, you have to be open to receiving feedback as open communication helps you stay aligned with your goals and builds confidence.

3. Look for Growth Opportunities

Another great way to reignite motivation at work is to take charge of your growth. If your organization isn't well-equipped to provide these opportunities, you can seek them out instead. You can always keep your leader updated on your growth plans to keep trust in each other so that your leader can help keep track of your progress.

Another way to grow at work is by volunteering to spearhead projects. This lets you think more creatively. It can also build trust between you and your teammates.

Aside from taking on responsibilities, online classes and tutorials are now available everywhere and may also be free to access. You can choose to attend these online classes on your own or recommend it to your boss so everyone in your team can join the learning.

4. Seek Demands and Challenges

Boredom can quickly lead to disengagement. Yes, easy and quick tasks can be fun, but they can also lead to boredom. On the other hand, if a job is way too difficult, demotivation may also be present.

So, challenge yourself by taking on responsibilities that push your boundaries. For example, express interest in projects that align with your strengths or offer new learning opportunities.

If you’re interested in a promotion or new role, don’t hesitate to express your ambitions. Pursuing challenges ensures ongoing professional growth and can positively impact customer satisfaction through innovative contributions.

5. Bring Out Your Best

Motivation and engagement can also affect your confidence in your abilities, and how much value you bring to others. When you’re more confident about what you do, you can be more enthusiastic to work on a task or with others.

If you feel self-doubt, you can always ask for reaffirmation from your trusted colleagues and leaders to remind you of your best skills and contributions. It’s also important to remind yourself of your unique skills, past achievements and what you can bring to the table to boost your confidence. This allows you to focus your energy on doing what you do best.

When you feel good about your future and yourself, you’d be more willing to invest in your present performance. This then can lead to more satisfaction and energy to work. The more you recognize your value, the more energy you’ll bring to your work. This confidence often results in better performance, fostering a positive work environment and contributing to team success.

6. Set Attainable Goals

There are different types of goals, for instance, big ones such as aiming for a promotion. But goals don't always have to be grand. They can be something as small as a task you accomplish within a day or a week. Your goals can also be short-term, such as learning a new skill.

What will make it more fulfilling is setting specific dates or times to accomplish them. Doing so makes them more real, exciting, and attainable. You can also use a journal or a digital board you can customize to keep track of things creatively and stay motivated.

Setting clear goals provides direction and ensures alignment with both personal and organizational objectives, reigniting workplace motivation.

Understand your needs to motivate yourself again.

To reignite your passion for work, openly communicate your needs and take proactive steps to address them. Whether it’s building connections, seeking growth, or setting personal goals, the key lies in recognizing what drives you. Prioritizing work-life balance is also crucial to sustaining long-term engagement and satisfaction.

Allied OneSource can help reignite your motivation

If your current role no longer inspires you, Allied OneSource is here to help you find your next big opportunity in customer service, engineering, light industrial, and more.

Find your next career milestone on our Job Portal.

Last updated on March 19, 2025.

References

1. Harter, J. (2025, January 14). U.S. Employee Engagement Sinks to 10-Year Low. GallUp. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654911/employee-engagement-sinks-year-low.aspx

2. Field, E., Krivkovich, A., Kügele, S., Robinson, N., & Yee, L. (2023, October 5). Women in the Workplace 2023. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace-2023

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