Periodically, I have the good fortune to meet someone whose selfless acts of goodness inspire me to write about him. David Zinger is one such person. He is the visionary who started the Employee Engagement Network that has become the online marketplace of ideas about employee engagement. David also maintains his own site entitled: Employee Engagement: Results That Matter. He is a tireless writer about all things regarding employee engagement. A few months back David reviewed my book. He liked it and decided to help raise awareness of my work. Some writers would view me as a competitor. Not David. Where others see a competitor, David sees a colleague who shares his passion to improve the lives of people in the workplace. He sent me and my co-authors pieces of rope as a symbol of the “Brotherhood of the Rope” that he has written about. His example inspired me and made me curious to know more about him and why he is so passionate about employee engagement. David was kind enough to oblige my request for an interview. Following is the result.
1. How did you become so passionate about employee engagement?
For 15 years, I was the employee assistance counselor for Seagram in Canada at the plant that produced the world’s supply of Crown Royal. I was given full access to the workplace and spent two or three hours a week touring the plant. I helped the employees and the employees taught me about work from management, union, and staff perspectives. They let me into their working and personal lives, Michael, and I am repaying the debt I have to them for teaching me so much about work.
I fear that when you are disengaged at work, you will be disengaged in other areas of your life and so let’s foster engagement for the benefit of all. The early statistics I read on disengagement, around 20 to 30%, both sickened and saddened me because that is like having your whole outfield in a baseball game not chasing after fly balls, not wearing a team uniform, and looking in the stands while the game is being played. And I venture to say those players are having a hard time outside of the diamond too. My website is called “Employee Engagement: Results that Matter” and engagement results must matter to everyone, everywhere!
2. What are your interests outside of work?
My family is my focus. I love my wife Susan, and I am thrilled with my three teenagers: Jack, Luke, and Katharine. I have designed my career to work at home for the past 20 years to be the dad who gets them up, makes them pancakes, attends all their games, and gets asked by them, “don’t you have a real job, Dad?”
I am fascinated by improvisation. I took my first course in the fall and I will take a 10-day course in Calgary in July of this year. My motivation is less for public performance than for learning what improvisation has to teach us about living in the year 2008.
I am a bedroom Buddhist. This sounds kind of kinky but in reality I like to read books on Buddhism before going to sleep. That is ironic because Buddhism is all about waking up! I don’t practice the religion of Buddhism but the practices of loving-kindness, mindfulness, and embracing impermanence have enriched my life.
3. What made you think about forming the Employee Engagement Network?
I am fascinated by the power and potential of social media to make a difference. I improvised the network on a Saturday afternoon two months ago. I didn’t know how to create a network but I thought I’d learn how by doing it. I like the advice embedded in Peter Block’s book title: The Answer to How is Yes. In addition, my life path has transformed from: “if it is to be, it is up to me” to “if it is to be, it is up to we.” Michael, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we as a network could demonstrate through our efforts that we helped heal the “sickness” of disengagement for individuals, leaders, and organizations?
4. Who are the individuals who influenced your values and how did they influence you?
Michael, this is not a fair question because if I were to answer this I would not stop. I can’t even begin with friends and cohorts or I’d be remiss at who I didn’t mention. Let me just share with you my family or origin and my immediate family: Genevieve Zinger, my mother, gave me the gifts of empathy and unconditional acceptance; Jack Zinger, my father, gave me the gifts of tenacity and transformation; Neil Zinger, my brother, gave me the gifts of exuberance and thoughtfulness; Valerie Zinger, my sister, game me the gifts of hard work and learning; Susan Gerlach, my wife, gave me the gifts of “let’s do it” and spontaneity; Jack Zinger, my eldest son, gave me the gifts of loving and being loved; Katharine Zinger, my daughter, gave me the gifts of artfulness and possibility; and, Luke Zinger, my son and Katharine’s twin, gave me the gifts of unique identify and living life large.
5. What do you hope your legacy will be?
My legacy is up to others to decide, and I think it is a bigger word than I deserve. I am focused on the present and doing the best I can, with who I am with, wherever I am. I write a reminder blog for myself: www.diehappytoday.com and my intention is to die happy on whatever day that will be and know that I shared my happiness with others.
__________________
Do you have a David Zinger story to share? Please leave a comment or send me (or David) an email. Let’s thank David for all that he has done on behalf of employee engagement and promoting the works of members of the employee engagement community.
