You wouldn’t text your boss a 20-page strategy doc. Just like you wouldn’t call a town hall to reveal a new coffee machine. But organizations make similar mistakes all the time.

If you want a team that’s energized, open to change and willing to share the truth, you’ve got to give them something more than “How’s it going?”

Hard skills matter — but it’s the human ones that build trust, shape culture and leave a lasting impact. And yet most workplaces treat them like a bonus, not a necessity.

Companies in the top quartile of employee engagement see 21% higher profitability than those in the bottom. That’s not a rounding error. That’s a competitive advantage.

Here’s the thing: Your employees are your most important audience. If you want a message to stick — whether it’s a new strategy, a shift in direction or a cultural change — you need to sell it.

Here’s a hard truth: Most employee experience problems aren’t about broken systems. They’re about broken leadership — and bad coaching is often part of the problem.

Yes, change is hard. Also, the sky is blue, and I want a side of ranch with my pizza. Now, what are you going to do to make this change easier?

People are juggling return-to-office mandates, adjusting to AI, raising kids and quietly burning out. And whether they say it out loud or not, they’re watching how leadership shows up in the middle of it all.

Companies that build modern, flexible work environments will retain top talent, reduce turnover and attract future-ready professionals. Those who don’t? They’ll spend a fortune trying to recover what they lost.

The best insights don’t always come from the top; they come from the people living the change every day. Your boots-on-the-ground contributors? They’re not obstacles. They’re advisors.

Your employees are tired of surveys. We’re talking full-on feedback fatigue. Because too many companies treat surveys as checkboxes — not a meaningful part of their employee engagement strategy.

The more I think about it, the more ridiculous this phrase sounds. You might as well say, “I’m in front of you, existing.” Of course you hear them — you don’t really have a choice if you’re within earshot.