Oprah's Final Show Teaches Viewers to Love Their Jobs and Be Engaged Employees

On May 25, 2011, Oprah Winfrey took the stage for the last time to share the many lessons she learned throughout her 25-year journey hosting one of the most popular TV shows of all time. During that final episode, Oprah demonstrated once again that she is passionate, inspirational, committed, and most importantly, an engaged leader. Most of the advice and wisdom she offered to both her viewers and employees focused on how loving your job and being an engaged employee positively impact your life overall. Engaged employees feel a strong emotional bond with their employer and choose to exert discretionary effort to provide better results for customers and the organization. Essentially, they share a strong desire to be part of the value that their organization creates.

When Oprah first started hosting her own show, she was satisfied with her new position, but soon felt a very strong emotional bond with her viewers and colleagues that created even more meaning saying, "I started the show as a job and was very happy to get the job, but it was not long before I understood that there was something else going on here. More than just job satisfaction. Something in me connected with each of you in a way that allowed me to see myself in you and you in me." In addition, her commitment to the job was evident by her impressive attendance record. Oprah said, "I showed up because I knew that you were waiting…for whatever we had to offer and that is why I never missed a day in 25 years because you were here." Her presence day after day was fueled by her ability to do something she truly enjoyed.

She touched on the importance of job content, which refers to an employee's ability to do what he/she does best. "Everybody has a calling," Oprah said. "Your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it. Every time we have seen a person on this stage who is a success in their life, they spoke of the joy, and they spoke of the juice that they receive from doing what they knew they were meant to be doing." When employees like Oprah are given an opportunity to do what they do best, they become more engaged in their jobs, are more likely to stay with their employer and are more apt to have successful careers.

Since Oprah believes people can do anything they put their mind to, she emphasized how all employees need to take full responsibility for their Engagement level. "In every way, in every day, you are showing people exactly who you are. You're letting your life speak for you. And when you do that, you will receive in direct proportion to how you give in whatever platform you have."

She elaborated on the responsibility people have for their own life saying, "You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you're responsible for the energy that you bring to others." Essentially, employees have no one to blame but themselves if they are disengaged in their jobs and eschew ownership for Engagement. The responsibility for Employee Engagement should not fall solely on management. Rather, the driving force of workplace Engagement should be shared between managers and employees.

To ensure Employee Engagement levels remain at a high level, frequent communication between managers and employees is essential. In fact, Oprah indicated that solid listening and communication skills are necessary to strengthen the relationship between managers and employees as well as build Employee Engagement levels. She stated, "Understanding that one principle, that everybody wants to be heard, has allowed me to hold the microphone for you all these years... Try it with your children, your husband, your wife, your boss, your friends. Validate them. 'I see you. I hear you. And what you say matters to me.'" In the workplace, employees want their voices to be heard and need to feel appreciated for a job well done.

A clear, concise mission statement is needed to bring employees together to work toward a common goal. Oprah fully realized the show would not have lasted for so many years without having such a loyal, committed group of employees who were aligned with the vision, values and mission of The Oprah Winfrey Show. "I've said many times I have the best team in TV and it's not just because they're great at what they do… it's because we all here are aligned with the vision of service to you, our viewers, so Harpo family thank you for your love and your loyalty on this trip we've all had of a lifetime," she said.

For nearly three decades, Oprah came to work as an Actively Engaged employee, mentor, motivator and leader. She succeeded by exerting extra discretionary effort and surrounding herself with engaged employees who truly cared about their jobs and wanted to make a difference. She set an excellent example for her viewers and employees by showing what is possible when a person truly loves his/her job. She gave more of herself and left a legacy that few, if any, engaged leaders may ever be able to replicate.