Organizations and Its Discontents

Disengagement Is Rising—and It's Calling Leaders to Show Up Differently

A recent Gallup survey* reveals a troubling reality: a majority of the workforce is disengaged. As leaders, we can’t ignore the deeper signals beneath this trend. Whether it’s the lingering effects of the pandemic, rigid return-to-office mandates, or a fading sense of purpose, many employees are still disheartened.

Disengagement is a quiet crisis inside many organizations. Teams are showing up, but the spark is gone. Deadlines are met, but creativity is missing. Meetings are quiet, cameras off, ideas scarce. For leaders, it can feel like trying to light a fire with damp matches—no matter what you do, nothing seems to catch.

Reigniting engagement requires more than pizza parties and pep talks. It calls for making space for meaningful dialogue, reinforcing shared purpose, and acknowledging the emotional undercurrents at play. Because behind every disengaged employee is often a once-committed person wondering if anyone still notices that their light is flickering.

So, What Can Leaders Do?

In a recent Entrepreneur article, Gloria St. Martin-Lowry noted that workers are increasingly calling for moral leadership—especially in a time marked by political polarization and economic uncertainty. The demand is clear: employees want leaders who lead with values, integrity, and empathy.

Moral leadership is the ability to act ethically, make values-based decisions, and lead with honesty, courage, and a sense of responsibility to others.

Leadership Lives in the Micro-Moments

This is the real work of leadership.

Moral leadership isn’t about showing up on autopilot. It means arriving with intention—attuned to the moment, anchored in what matters, and aware of how your presence shapes the room. You see it in the intentional check-in—when a leader takes a moment to truly see and hear someone. It’s revealed in the pause before a reaction, the steady hand when things fall short. These small, almost imperceptible moments carry weight. They tell your team who you are—and what they can count on.

Leadership is built in moments when you:

• ✅ Acknowledge someone’s frustration
• ✅ Offer your full presence
• ✅ Choose curiosity over control

Especially in systems under pressure, these small acts can reset a team’s emotional tone, shift the energy, and create pockets of psychological safety.

They’re not grand gestures—but they are deeply human ones.

Practical Ways to Lead with Moral Authority

Here are five simple, high-impact ways to practice moral leadership with disengaged teams:

1. Lead with Transparency
Be honest—even when the message is hard to hear. Disengagement thrives in the absence of clear, human communication.
💬 “Here’s what I know, what I don’t, and what I’m doing about it.”

2. Listen Without Judgment
Create space for real conversation. Don’t rush to fix—just listen.
💬 “What’s been hardest for you lately?”

3. Acknowledge Discontent
Validate what your team is feeling. Don’t dismiss it—meet discomfort with empathy.
💬 “I hear you. You’re feeling disconnected—and that matters.”

4. Reconnect to Purpose
Bring shared values back to the surface. Help people remember what they’re working toward.
💬 “What matters most to us as a team—and how do we live that?”

5. Model Integrity in Small Moments
Keep your word. Show up prepared. Own your mistakes. These habits build trust over time.

A Call to Leaders

If your team is disengaged, it’s not just a sign something’s broken—it’s an invitation to lead differently. Re-engagement begins with how you show up: with presence, calm, and a grounded openness that makes others feel safe to speak—and ready to rejoin the work.

Moral leadership is built in the small moments—and it’s in those moments that engagement begins to return.



You don’t have to navigate this alone. An option like executive coaching can offer meaningful support. It provides a structured, confidential space to reflect on your leadership, surface what’s getting in the way, and explore new strategies to re-energize your team. Coaching helps you realign with your values and lead with greater insight, intention and impact.

Disengagement Is Widening—and It’s Costing Us

Recent data from Gallup’s 2025 survey paints a stark picture: only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged—the lowest in over a decade. Even more concerning, 17% are actively disengaged, mirroring levels not seen since 2013.