In today’s episode, I explore a question that emerged while watching the World Cup: What happens when we know more about public figures, athletes, and strangers online than we do about the people living and working beside us?

The question became harder to ignore after encountering two statistics. Only 26% of Americans know their next-door neighbour by name. Only 20% of employees are engaged at work. While these numbers describe different environments, they may point to the same underlying challenge.

As loneliness, social division, and disengagement continue to rise, leaders are increasingly being asked to do more than drive performance. They are being asked to create environments where people feel seen, valued, and connected to something larger than themselves.

This episode explores what workplace engagement, community belonging, and leadership presence have in common, and why one of the most important responsibilities of leadership may be helping people remember that they matter.

Join me as I explore:

• What the 26% and 20% statistics may reveal about modern life
• Why loneliness and disengagement are increasingly connected
• The role managers play in shaping workplace engagement
• What Mr. Rogers understood about human connection
• Why presence may matter more than many leadership frameworks
• How organizations are becoming places of social connection and repair

Key Takeaways:

• People are longing for genuine connection more than many leaders realize
• Engagement is often a reflection of the quality of human relationships
• Managers have a profound influence on how people experience work
• Presence, curiosity, and attention are leadership skills
• Making people feel that they matter creates trust and belonging
• Leadership begins with the person directly in front of us

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#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #Trust #Management #HumanCenteredLeadership

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.