“Is this me? Is this my team?” I wondered. The truth? It was.

The Perception Gap That’s Holding You Back

According to Gallup’s latest research, highly engaged teams show a 23% increase in profitability, 18% higher productivity, and 81% lower absenteeism.

Yet, only 21% of employees globally feel engaged in their work.

Everything looked good—sales were steady, KPIs were being met, and the latest employee engagement survey had a respectable participation rate.

Yet, something didn’t sit right.

The Feedback That Changed Everything

In one organisation I worked with a leader who launched a feedback initiative expecting some constructive criticism but nothing earth-shattering.

The results, however, were a wake-up call.

The feedback wasn’t about pay or workload—it was about how people felt.

Words like “invisible,” “disconnected,” and “underappreciated” came up repeatedly.

This leader realised something fundamental: engagement isn’t just about big moves like team-building days, reward schemes, or quarterly surveys.

The problem wasn’t a lack of effort—it was a lack of connection.

The Turning Point

In response, they took a different approach.

They started hosting small group conversations and really listening—no interruptions, no defensiveness.

The stories they heard were eye-opening.

One employee, Emma, stopped contributing ideas because she felt ignored in meetings.

Another Rahul, was juggling two roles but felt invisible because no one acknowledged his extra effort.

The issue wasn’t just disengagement—it was a lack of trust, emotional safety, and purpose.

The Traditional Approach Falls Short

Like many organisations, this team had relied heavily on engagement surveys to measure how employees felt.

However, these tools were too static, too infrequent to capture the nuances of a rapidly changing workplace.

The leader realised they’d been acting on outdated data, applying broad strokes to what was actually a very nuanced challenge.

What If There’s Another Way?

Through reflection and intentional effort, they discovered that closing the perception gap requires more than numbers on a survey.

It demands a shift in leadership approach—one rooted in connection, emotional safety, and shared purpose.

Engagement Workshops...

Engagement workshops help leaders and teams move beyond static strategies to create thriving, connected workplaces.

Here’s what these workshops look like in action:

• Mapping Emotional Culture: Using tools like the Emotional Culture Deck, teams explore the emotions that drive their behaviours and identify what they need to feel (and not feel) to succeed.
• Building Shared Purpose: Leaders and teams align their daily tasks with the organisation’s mission, turning work into a meaningful contribution.
• Strengthening Psychological Safety: Structured activities foster open dialogue and create environments where employees feel heard and valued.
• Transformational Play: Engaging, interactive activities help break down barriers, encouraging creativity and collaboration while building genuine team connections.
• Ongoing Support: Workshops don’t end with a session—leaders receive resources to sustain progress through regular check-ins, coaching, and actionable strategies.

These workshops aren’t just about talking—they’re about experiencing and co-creating cultures that drive engagement and success.

What About You?

This journey isn’t unique.

Across organisations, leaders face the same challenge of bridging the perception gap between what they think they’re delivering and what employees experience.

So, here’s the question: Are you ready to listen to what your team isn’t saying?

Are you ready to close the gap?

My purpose is to bring the unsaid conversations to the table.

This is where engagement begins—where your people come alive, and your organisation thrives.

Ready to explore more ways to create emotionally intelligent and flexible work cultures?

Book a one-on-one discovery call and let’s explore how we can help you create a workplace where your people thrive.

BOOK HERE

Look forward to catching up. ??

Have a great weekend.

Cara

?? Repost if you found this useful. Thank you. ??