How Leaders Can Fix Employee Disengagement
In a recent podcast, John Golden from Sales Pop talked with leadership expert Dave Garrison. Dave has over 25 years of experience as a CEO and advisor. He started Garrison Growth in 2013 to help businesses succeed.
This episode focused on a big problem: employee disengagement. When workers stop caring, companies lose billions of dollars. Dave shared clear steps leaders can take to fix this.
Why Disengagement Costs So Much
Many workers are not happy at their jobs. Gallup studies show that one out of three people wouldn’t even suggest their company to a friend. That’s a big red flag.
Key Takeaways:
- Lost talent: Unhappy employees don’t use their full skills.
- Lower profits: Less effort means less money.
- Sales drop: Salespeople who don’t care won’t close deals.
What Motivates Employees?
Dave says leaders must know what each person wants. Ask things like:
- “What can I do to help you?”
- “What are your goals?”
- “How can I support you?”
Try this:
- Have regular one-on-one chats.
- Offer help based on personal needs.
- Give employees tools and freedom to grow.
Work With Your Team, Not On Your Team
Dave believes in co-creation. This means working with people, not just telling them what to do.
Tips:
- Set goals together.
- Let workers share their ideas during reviews.
- Give them a voice in big decisions.
Everyone Likes to Be Seen
Feeling noticed matters. But people like different kinds of praise. Some want money, others want a “thank you” in front of the team, or a chance to learn something new.
Ideas:
- Give shout-outs in team meetings.
- Offer classes or training as a reward.
- Ask each person what kind of praise they like best.
COVID Changed What People Want
The pandemic made people think about what really matters at work. Gen Z, in particular, wants more than just money. They care about meaning and balance.
What to Do:
- Talk about life outside work.
- Allow flexible schedules.
- Focus on building trust and support.
It’s Not Always About Money
Dave shared a story about a young employee who asked for a raise to buy movie tickets. Instead, his boss just gave him tickets. That was all he needed.
Lesson:
- Get to know what your team really values.
- Sometimes simple rewards mean more than cash.
People Buy from People
Even in business-to-business sales, real people are involved. Dave says it’s important to connect on a human level.
Sales Tips:
- Ask clients what they really want.
- Learn about their goals.
- Treat them like partners, not just buyers.
Purpose Brings People Together
Most employees want to feel their work matters. Dave says leaders should talk about their company’s purpose often. Show how each team member helps.
Action Steps:
- Share the company’s mission clearly.
- Help workers see their role in the big picture.
- Make sure values match at every level.
Final Thoughts: Lead Together
Dave’s big advice? Don’t lead alone. Work with your team and customers. Ask for input. Set goals together. You’ll get better ideas—and better results.
Remember:
- Be open and honest.
- Let your team help shape the plan.
- Aim high, and support each other.
Want more? Check out Dave Garrison’s book, The Buy-In Advantage. It’s full of great ideas to help your team care more and do better.
Our Host
John is the Amazon bestselling author of Winning the Battle for Sales: Lessons on Closing Every Deal from the World’s Greatest Military Victories and Social Upheaval: How to Win at Social Selling. A globally acknowledged Sales & Marketing thought leader, speaker, and strategist, he has conducted over 1500 video interviews of thought leaders for Sales POP! online sales magazine & YouTube Channel and for audio podcast channels where Sales POP! is rated in the top 2% of most popular shows out of 3,320,580 podcasts globally, ranked by Listen Score. He is CSMO at Pipeliner CRM. In his spare time, John is an avid Martial Artist.
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