Late this summer, our team was surprised by a recent Gallup poll indicating that only 32% of employees are engaged in their work. At the time, it seemed improbable that employees were still watching for their next opportunity, with the job marketing tightening, increased layoffs, and an AI Jaws-like soundtrack in the background.
With bleaker-than-usual job prospects, what are employees looking for? What is the missing ingredient to improve employee engagement?
The Missing Puzzle Piece
Our work in this area has found that employees are looking to their leadership for stronger engagement and direction. Fortune Magazine’s CEO Daily recently called out, employees are looking for a communicator-in-chief now more than ever.
By the Numbers
When leaders engage with their teams, it strengthens emotional connection and commitment, or what Gallup defines as true employee engagement. The business case is unambiguous: organizations with engaged employees report significantly better outcomes: ~14% higher productivity, 18% higher sales performance, 23% higher profitability, and 78% greater staff well-being.
Without consistent leadership presence and open dialogue, companies risk higher absenteeism, lower-quality work, reduced productivity, and rising turnover. What can counter these trends and give employees the cultural anchor they need is clear, transparent, and consistent communication.
Leadership has never been more challenging. Rapid market shifts, outdated management models, and the realities of hybrid work create constant pressure. Still, one approach reliably cuts through the uncertainty: strong, sustained leadership engagement.
The team at FastrackPR has worked alongside leadership teams facing major transitions in their businesses. Through our collaborations, we’ve developed metrics-rich programs that define culture, sharpen communication consistency, and expand leadership accessibility.
The results? Increased retention, reduced turnover costs, and (much) higher employee engagement scores. There is no playbook for leading in the age of AI. But we have seen consistently that meaningful engagement starts at the top, and time spent by senior leaders with employees pays dividends across culture, performance, and retention.
Let’s talk if you are looking for a partner to help your leadership team engage with clarity, consistency, and results.