Disengagement: new data sparks urgent call for action (and new ideas)

Gallup’s Global Employee Engagement data released this week says that 77% of employees are disengaged. That is 3 out of 4 people! Most of them are ‘filling a seat and watching the clock’. But 18% are actively disruptive.

The data is new but the trend isn’t.

As an agency leader put it this week:

“After Covid, we have some great people who are productive and working hard, but they’re burning out. And everyone else is side-hustling an Airbnb, dodging coming into the office, and generally semi-detached from the business.”

Now the data shows that what these people want is “engagement and culture”. Which is easier to say than to create.

Another frustrated leader asked on Tuesday:

“What if you’ve done ALL the things—you have the barista coffee, the cafeteria, the beautiful office, the yoga classes and they still don’t come in?”.

How do you build a connection if no one shows up?

Some are looking for external help: coaches, therapists, facilitators; others are insisting people go in more often and muttering about “consequences” if they don’t.

But Felix Koch and Phil Burgess think these approaches miss the point. This week on the vlog they share their new approach for building connection, support, and trust between colleagues whether they are remote or in the office. (And, yes, I do seem to be wearing a dress that matches our pet zebra, Maude.)

What do you think? Would you want to do it? Does it sound too indulgent, too vulnerable, and too much for work?

Or could it make a real difference?

Next week

Digging deeper into that Gallup data.

Christine

PS. I am delighted by your enthusiasm for the new keynote ‘Are you shining bright or burning out?’ If your organisation would like to explore booking me, drop elaine@armstrongpartners.co.uk a line.