Employee engagement isn’t a yes or no question–and it isn’t enough.
Why 23% Employee Engagement Is a Problem and What to Aim for Instead
I can’t count the number of leaders who’ve told me, “They’re just in it for the paycheck.”
Unfortunately, that’s a common lament in leadership, and Gallup’s recent numbers seem to confirm it. Only 23% of employees felt engaged in 2023. The fact that it’s a bump up just makes that sad number worse!
Real talk…? That’s crap.
That reality is crap for employers who want—and need—the best their people can bring every day. And it’s crap for employees who spend 40+ hours a week in jobs where they’re checked out. There’s no dignity in that.
Further, Gallup also reports that 59% of employees are doing the bare minimum. That’s an enormous loss of potential for employers and employees alike.
Engaged? That’s Just Table Stakes
Here’s what you’re already thinking—and what nobody seems to be saying: Engaged is the bare minimum. It’s table stakes!
What’s the Real Standard?
Impassioned. Driven. Committed.
Imagine a workplace where people feel deeply connected to their work. They give their all because they care, because they want to, because it matters. As a result, people and profits rise!
I hear skeptics all the time:
“That’s just not going to happen here. That’s just not going to happen with these people.”
Not with that mindset, it won’t.
Employers Deserve Impassioned Teams—Employees Deserve Passionate Work
Obviously, leaders want impassioned employees, and they’re right to expect it. The challenge is that passion doesn’t come for free. It has to be earned. Creating an environment where people can thrive, connect, and care takes effort, intention, and structure.
Employees, by the same token, deserve work that lights them up. Work where they feel respected, valued, and aligned with a purpose that matters. It’s not just about productivity; it’s about human dignity.
And because the human brain is complex, we leaders often struggle against human nature instead of working with it to make the job of encouraging people into effective behaviors easier.
This isn’t an impossible dream. It’s completely within reach.
The Key Is Working With Human Nature
When leaders align their strategies with human nature—rather than trying to control or suppress it—engagement transforms into something more powerful.
Impassioned teams emerge.
Here’s how to make it happen:
- Show genuine care for your people, and mean it.
- Define a mission that inspires and connects.
- Remove barriers that extinguish enthusiasm, like micromanagement and misaligned priorities.
The fact that only 23% of employees are engaged? That’s a BIG problem, and it’s fixable. Engagement is a minimum standard. Therefore, let’s aim higher—for the sake of your team, your business, and your mission.
If your people aren’t impassioned—or worse, aren’t even engaged—ask yourself how you may be unknowingly contributing to their apathy and disengagement.
What can you do to awaken the unstoppable team that’s likely waiting under the surface?
Are you ready to move beyond engagement? Let’s talk.