Managers - The Root of Employee Retention

Cathie Leimbach • June 28, 2022

Yes, it’s the manager who has the most impact on employee retention! 

Employees control only 30% of the factors that contribute to workplace engagement and retention. It’s the manager who controls the other 70%. Gallup’s book, It’s the Manager, introduces 52 insights into workplace realities that inform leadership practices which impact employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention. This article provides a high level look at why leveraging manager effectiveness is the best way to increase productivity and the organization’s bottom line.

For nearly a century the American dream was to have law and order, food and shelter. Once these were satisfied, people wanted to have a family, own a home, and live in peace. Now, in America and globally, the highest priority dream is to have a good job.  According to Gallup’s research, the most important contributor to the ‘best life imaginable’ – especially for young people and women – is to have a great job with a living wage and a manager or team leader who encourages your development. 

Unfortunately, only 15% of the global workforce reports having a great job. The reality that 85% are either just going through the motions or they hate their job has a negative impact on health, quality of life, organizational results, and the economy.   

Imagine the impact of increasing employee engagement to 50% of the workforce! How different individuals’ lives and our communities would be! But how can that possibly be done?

In the past 30 years workplace study after study has identified the factors that impact employee engagement. The biggest impact is how managers lead their people. Remember, managers control 70% of the variance in team engagement. Effective leadership practices have been identified, but few managers know about them. And even fewer put them into practice. 

Are your team members crystal clear everyday about what you want them to achieve? How often do you praise them for the things they are doing well? How encouraging and supportive are you when they need to improve their workplace performance? How skilled are you in these aspects of leading people?

What can you do to engage your employees for everyone’s benefit? If you would like to become a more effective leader at work, email me, Cathie Leimbach, asking for further information about developing highly effective people leadership skills. When you lead your team members well, they will become enthusiastic high performers. Don’t you want to experience this in your workplace? What difference would it make to your life?

3 Ways Toxic Workplace Culture Hurts Everyone

By Cathie Leimbach • June 24, 2025
A toxic workplace can make even the best job feel like a nightmare. When negativity takes over, it creates serious problems that affect everyone involved. Lower Productivity and Performance - When employees feel stressed, unappreciated, or constantly criticized, their work quality drops. People spend more time worrying about drama than focusing on their tasks. This means projects take longer to finish, and the company's overall results suffer. Workers who feel beaten down simply can't give their best effort. High Employee Turnover - Nobody wants to stay in a place where they feel miserable. Toxic environments cause good employees to quit and look for better opportunities elsewhere. This creates a costly cycle where companies constantly need to hire and train new people. The remaining staff gets overworked trying to cover for those who left. Mental Health Problems - Toxic workplaces take a real toll on people's well-being. Employees often experience increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. This doesn't just hurt them at work – it affects their personal lives too. When people dread going to work every day, it impacts their relationships and overall happiness. To consider whether your culture might be toxic and what you can do about it, click here to learn about 8 Signs of a Toxic Culture and suggestions for overcoming the negativity.  Having a positive workplace culture isn't just nice to have – it's essential for success. What action could you take to create a healthier workplace culture?

How Leadership Growth Drives Business Performance

By Cathie Leimbach • June 17, 2025
Herminia Ibarra’s research offers compelling insight into why leadership development should be viewed as a strategic priority. Her work shows that helping leaders grow isn’t just beneficial for individuals—it significantly improves how organizations operate and perform. Ibarra explores how leadership identity evolves over time. When managers step back from daily tasks and begin thinking and acting more strategically, it creates ripple effects across the organization. Teams become more engaged, decision-making improves, and execution becomes more effective. These shifts enhance productivity, innovation, and retention—key drivers of long-term success.  Her research also highlights the value of building strong leadership pipelines. Companies that invest in leaders who are adaptable, self-aware, and skilled at big-picture thinking tend to be more agile and resilient. These organizations are better equipped to respond to change and seize new opportunities. By reframing leadership development as a strategic investment rather than a soft skill, Ibarra shows how it creates measurable improvements in performance across the organization. Growth in leadership capacity leads to smarter decisions, healthier cultures, and stronger overall results. 👉 For a deeper dive into the data, click here to view Insights from Herminia Ibarra’s Research on Leadership Development and its Measurable Impact.
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