In a previous post, we discussed the psychology of new beginnings. The New Year is a natural marker to bring about new ideas, change, and renewed energy. There is a real buzz to the new year that can fizzle pretty quickly if your senior leaders don’t take advantage of it. So, why not begin 2026 by connecting with your employees in a meaningful way? Why not begin by asking your teams about how they’re doing?

Over the years, we’ve heard plenty of grumbles about employee engagement, with some senior leaders and HR acting as if it were a Sisyphean task or a compliance issue. We’d argue they are missing the point. Aligning employee engagement with your company values isn’t only the smart thing to do for healthy staff relationships, but it’s also the smart business thing to do.

We’ve all been there, walked into a workplace and wanted to walk right back out – when interviewing for a job, as a customer, even as someone picking up a friend for lunch. There was just a bad feeling, almost imperceptible. Almost. We’ve also experienced the opposite, entering a workplace that has that inexplicable energy, a place that just feels right. A place where you say, “Yes. I would like to work here.”

It’s been quite a year. And many organizations (from their CEOs down to their employees) are feeling the strain of 2025. Top concerns, across the country and industries, include: ~I&D Policy Changes (Inclusion & Diversity) ~AI-Driven Workforce Displacement ~Job Insecurity ~Changes in benefits, particularly health insurance. ~Economic Uncertainty

As we’re nearing the end of 2025, many organizations have struggled. 2025 was a year of uncertainty, radical policy changes, geopolitical risks, trade tensions, and an overall unease about the financial wellbeing of many companies and their employees. Workers are feeling more pressure now than ever. They are concerned about their job security, AI and automation, an increase in RTO (return to office) mandates, health insurance coverage, and a growing skills gap in many professions, among other issues. Burnout and disengagement are on the rise.