12-05-2025
The Great Detachment: How Leaders Can Reconnect Teams
The Great Detachment-Disengaged Managers
The numbers are in, and they're not pretty. According to Gallup's 2025 State of the Global Workplace report, global employee engagement has dropped to 21%-the lowest since the pandemic.
That's $438 billion in lost productivity. Money you're never going to get back.
But here's the kicker: it's not just frontline employees. Manager engagement is tanking even faster, falling from 30% to 27% in a single year. Yikes!!!
Managers aren't just another rung on the org chart-they're the engine. When managers disengage, teams follow. Think about it. If your boss is giving off vibes that they could care less, then why would you give more at work than you must?
Gallup found that countries with less engaged managers have less engaged employees, period.
And it's the younger and female managers who are feeling it most, with engagement drops of 5 and 7 percentage points respectively.
A number of simultaneous factors are driving the 'Great Detachment.' They include the following:
Here's the playbook:
You can't afford to ignore manager engagement. By integrating these strategies, you can address the root causes of disengagement and foster a culture where managers and their team members feel heard, valued, and motivated to do their best work.
Gallup's recent findings make it clear: engagement hinges on trust, growth, and genuine connection-especially in tumultuous times.
Keep in mind that re-engaging your workforce isn't just about boosting productivity; it's about creating a culture where people thrive. The strategies outlined here are proven, but they require commitment and leadership.
The ROI is huge, so don't delay. Take action today.
