In today’s business world Make Employee Engagement Your Business Strategy, most leaders will agree that employees are a company’s most valuable asset. But that statement only holds true when employees are truly engaged in their work. Without engagement, the workforce may be doing the bare minimum or worse, becoming a silent force of resistance within the organization.
The pandemic revealed cracks in the traditional employer-employee dynamic. Since 2020, millions of workers around the world have voluntarily left their jobs in search of better conditions, more flexibility, and deeper purpose. This shift was so significant that Professor Anthony Klotz dubbed it The Great Resignation, a global re-evaluation of workplace culture and expectations.
But what if we could shift that narrative? What if The Great Resignation sparked The Great Recognition? A recognition that employee engagement is not an HR initiative it’s a core business strategy. When employees are engaged, they’re less likely to quit, more likely to innovate, and more willing to go above and beyond. And as event planners know well: the people behind the scenes can make or break an experience.
Why Should Leaders Care?
Because disengagement is quietly blocking your competitive edge. It’s the reason teams fail to innovate. It’s the drag on performance. It’s the root of low morale. On the flip side, engaged employees are your secret weapon they bring ideas, energy, resilience, and ownership. They’re not just clocking in; they’re invested.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce report states that only 15% of employees globally are actively engaged. That means 85% are coasting—or struggling. If your organization is aiming for high performance, innovation, and relevance in a fast-changing world, employee engagement must become part of your strategic roadmap.
What Exactly Is Employee Engagement?
It’s more than showing up to work. It’s about how your team feels, thinks, and acts in relation to your organization. An engaged employee believes in the company’s mission, feels valued and trusted, and is emotionally connected to the outcomes they help deliver.
This kind of engagement leads people to go beyond their job descriptions—to support colleagues, delight customers, and advocate for the brand. It’s not something you can demand. It’s something you cultivate.
What Causes Disengagement?
Many teams fall short not because they lack talent, but because of how they’re led. Disengagement is often a symptom of the workplace environment: poor communication, lack of recognition, micromanagement, toxic culture, or organizational rigidity.
People disengage when they feel invisible, mistrusted, or exhausted. When leadership fails to connect emotionally and psychologically with their teams, it erodes trust—and trust is the cornerstone of engagement.
So What Can Leaders Do?
If you want an engaged team, you have to start with yourself. Your energy, empathy, and involvement set the tone. During the pandemic, many leaders became more human checking in, offering flexibility, and listening. That shift created trust, and trust inspired performance.
Here’s what works:
Be present and empathetic. Get involved in your team’s world. Trust them to do their jobs and show you care about them as people. When employees feel seen and heard, they’ll show up for you in return.
Communicate constantly. The uncertainty of the past few years taught us the power of transparent communication. Whether it’s company updates, recognition, or a simple check-in, communication fosters culture and culture drives engagement.
Equip and empower. Engagement isn’t just emotional, it’s practical. Make sure your team knows what’s expected, has the tools to succeed, and feels confident in their role. Offer opportunities to grow, contribute ideas, and do their best work.
You’ll know engagement is thriving when your team says:
The Benefits Speak for Themselves
When you make employee engagement a business strategy, the results are profound. You’ll see:
Engaged employees don’t just do the work, they push boundaries, create solutions, and advocate for your mission. They help your business stay relevant, resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.
Final Thought
If you’re an event planner, team leader, or executive wondering how to ensure lasting impact not just at your next event, but in your entire organization—start with engagement. Prioritize it. Measure it. Nurture it.
Because when your people care, everything changes.
Make employee engagement your business strategy and watch your organization come alive.
Written by Kgadi Mmanakana | Adapted for Speakers Inc
Contact us at Speakers Inc and view our International site
Speaker Listing
We’re thrilled to bring back our Speakers Inc Virtual Speaker Showcase in 2026 and this edition is proudly focused on spotlighting the exceptional speaker talent emerging from South Africa. This isn’t just another webinar. It’s a curated, high-production showcase designed to present dynamic speakers to the people who book them such as corporate event planners, […]
Keynote Speakers Inspiring You, Go Beyond Motivation at Your Next Event If you’re planning a high-impact conference or corporate event in Johannesburg, Cape Town, or Durban, you already know that your keynote speaker sets the tone for everything. You’ve probably searched for “top keynote speakers in South Africa” or even “inspirational public speakers near me” […]
In today’s unpredictable and complex business environment, one Important Question for Leaders Today stands above all others as the defining challenge for forward-thinking leaders: “How do I lead people through change while inspiring them to thrive, not just survive?” This question cuts to the core of what leadership must become in a post-pandemic, AI-powered, hybrid-working, […]
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the modern workplaces and how Leaders Can Support Their Female Workforce across the world and the United States. Unfortunately, women were disproportionately impacted sparking the “She-Cession.” According to McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace annual study, one in four women are considering stepping out or stepping back from the workplace which is […]
Do you remember THE OLD BAIT SWITCH DOES NOT WORK and the first time you were disappointed by a large organisation? My earliest memory of corporate greed (we all have those, right?) was what I recall being a few months after Smarties Mini Eggs were launched in South Africa. As a lifelong fan of the […]
Why corporate motivational speakers are needed now more than ever I am a corporate motivational speaker and my real job is to directly address the major factors contributing to an organization’s successes and failures. As I’ve spoken around the globe, to organizations across just about every industry, I’ve seen how corporate motivational speakers are now needed […]
The power of servant leadership as I was driving through one of the low-income neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Durban recently. There had been heavy rains that had led to significant flooding. When approaching an area of the road that was completely flooded, I noticed a group of boys and young men busy filling it […]
The Power of South African Women Voices: Leading Up to Women’s Month 2025 As Women’s Month approaches in South Africa this August, the demand for authentic, bold, and transformative female keynote speakers has never been greater. With 2025 bringing both continued societal shifts and corporate reflection on equity and leadership, the spotlight is firmly on […]
