As we reflect on current national and worldwide trends, a recent Gallup survey concerning declining employee engagement is of relevance to all management consultants, not just human resource and organization development practitioners.

Employee Engagement Definition and Value to Organizations

Employee engagement is the extent to which employees and team members feel a connection to the organization and work. This mental and emotional connection motivates or encourages best efforts not only to complete projects or initiatives to achieve desired goals but to exceed expectations.

Gallup 2025 Global Workplace Report

According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 Report, in 2024, the percentage of engaged employees fell from 23% to 21%. In the past 12 years engagement had only declined once in that period, during the pandemic in 2020. One of the primary contributing factors identified was managers and their level of engagement.

Workplace Disruption Affects Employee Mindsets 

As discussed in my previous messages, our current work environment is certainly disruptive. Organizations are experiencing a transformation of the workforce and workplace with retirements, turnover, and debate about remote vs. on-site work, budget and resource constraints, and the threat of technology and digital tools reducing the need for human contribution and intervention.

Employee Uncertainty Increases in Times of Disruption

Much of the disruption is related to uncertainty. Organizations and their team members want to know how this future and the result of current events and decisions will impact them.

A Management Consultant Toolkit

Management consultants add value to organizations in times of uncertainty by advising and working with organizations to improve levels of engagement by assessing current situations, analyzing causes and recommending ways to mitigate. A toolkit for consultants includes policies, programs and initiatives, such as:

• Investing in employee growth and development,
• Promoting work-life balance and well-being,
• Building positive and inclusive work environments,
• Empowering employees to take ownership in outcomes,
• Fostering transparency and honest communication, and
• Recognizing and rewarding team members who do good work by celebrating the accomplishment of desired goals.

Management Consultants Can Guide Clients to Improve Engagement

As Gallup notes, the decline in employee engagement can put the productivity of the entire global workplace at risk. Management consultants can help guide organizations to achieve measurable results by recognizing and managing employee and team member engagement.