At the Interchange next week we'll explore Chapter 11 of The Great Engagement, "Leadership: Spreading the Purpose" in the context of alarming new findings from Gallup's 2025 State of the Global Workplace report.

This timely research reveals a critical decline in manager engagement worldwide (from 30% to 27%), with even steeper drops among female managers and young managers. As Gallup emphasizes, "70% of team engagement is attributable to the manager," making this trend an existential threat to organizational performance.

Chapter 11 offers insights into how transformational leaders can reverse this trend by effectively spreading purpose throughout their organizations. In it we emphasize that true leadership is not about mission statements hanging on walls, but about consistently connecting people to a higher purpose that motivates them to go beyond their comfort zones…and we will go beyond the simple definitions and look at ways that leaders must build relationship with their people.

To prepare for our discussion, please reflect on these questions:

1. The Gallup report shows that manager disengagement affects team engagement and ultimately productivity. How are you currently gauging engagement levels among your managers, and what signals indicate they might be struggling?

2. Chapter 11 emphasizes that "a transformational culture in any organization develops when leaders generate a focus on a higher purpose." What specific practices from the chapter are you using (or could you implement) to keep purpose alive in your managers' conscious minds?

3. Chapter 11 distinguishes between leadership, management, and coaching as essential tools. When observing your leadership team, where do you see an overreliance on one tool at the expense of others?

4. The Gallup report reveals that managers who receive training are half as likely to be actively disengaged. How are you currently fostering inspirational leadership among your managers?

5. Considering the chapter's guidance on practices for effective leadership (Share, Share, Share; Write up a purpose statement; Have mission moments; Ask questions; Put it in writing; Develop inspirational sub-purposes; Stop delegating; Have frank discussions; Acknowledge contributions; Celebrate progress), which one area represents your biggest opportunity for improvement?

During our session, we'll explore practical ways to implement these concepts, particularly focusing on how to help your managers move from resignation to engagement through purpose-driven leadership.

We'll also carve out extended time for peer coaching, so please come prepared with a specific challenge related to spreading purpose in your organization that you'd like coaching on.