Quiet Quitting is a Manager Problem

April 16, 2024

Earning the respect of your employees

In today’s work world, many employees are quietly losing enthusiasm for their jobs. This isn’t just a problem for the employees. It’s a big issue for their bosses too. Studies show that a whopping 80% of workers are happy with their tasks but are unhappy with their managers. This mismatch is causing serious problems like lower productivity, fewer repeat customers, and less money for the company.


Employees are yearning for managers who are approachable and open to feedback. They want leaders who create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable expressing their opinions without the fear of facing negative consequences. For instance, instead of feeling hesitant to share ideas or concerns, employees desire an environment where their voices are heard and valued. Moreover, fairness in treatment is crucial; workers want managers who treat everyone on the team equally, without playing favorites or showing bias. When managers embody these qualities, employees feel more empowered, respected, and motivated to contribute positively to the workplace.


To fix this situation, companies need to focus on training managers to be better leaders. They need to learn how to build trust, treat employees with respect, and keep communication open. By doing this, leaders can reverse the trend of workers losing interest and create a happier, more successful workplace for everyone.



If your organization would like to overcome some of these manager concerns, register to attend a Test Drive for Conversational Management™, a skills development program that equips leaders to create a trusting, respectful workplace.   

The Power of Strategic Choice: Making Room for What Matters

By Cathie Leimbach • November 10, 2025
In most organizations, the instinct is to add —more goals, more projects, more meetings. But as Juliet Funt, founder of the Juliet Funt Group, teaches in her Strategic Choice process, real leadership strength lies in deciding what to stop doing . Strategic Choice is the intentional narrowing of priorities—cutting away the clutter so teams can focus on what truly drives results. It’s a disciplined act of letting go: saying no to good ideas so there’s room for the great ones. Funt’s approach challenges leaders to pause, think, and create the mental and operational space their people need to perform at their best. By removing unnecessary tasks and misplaced effort, leaders make room for precision, innovation, and real thinking time. This isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most. When businesses adopt this mindset, they replace overwhelm with clarity and regain control of their time, energy, and outcomes. For small to mid-sized companies, embracing Strategic Choice can transform busyness into focus—and that focus is where sustainable growth begins. Want a quick visual overview? View Strategic Choice: Making Room for What Matters to see how this process helps leaders focus on what truly drives results.

Unlock Your Team's Potential: Fix Dysfunction, Boost the Bottom Line!

By Cathie Leimbach • November 4, 2025
Hey team leaders! Ever wonder why some companies soar while others stumble? Patrick Lencioni's bestseller, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team , nails it: workplace dysfunctions such as no trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoiding accountability, and ignoring results lead to mediocre performance at best. But here's the good news—smart leadership development changes the game! Start with building trust . Train leaders to open up and be vulnerable. Teams bond, ideas flow, and costly mistakes drop. Next, embrace healthy conflict . Teach team leaders to make it safe for team members to share the pros and cons of current or new ways of doing things. This helps everyone understand different perspectives. Then, drive commitment . Leaders who clarify goals, ask everyone to share their level of buy-in, and address their concerns get everyone bought in. People focus on high value work and get more done. . Hold folks accountable through coaching. Leaders learn to give kind, direct feedback by praising good work and calmly providing more training as needed. Turnover plummets and the quality and quantity of work improves. Finally, focus on results . Be clear on expectations. Keep score by monitoring progress weekly or daily. Acknowledge team wins when the goals are met. Winning sports teams pay attention to these Five Behaviors of a Team. How would a World Series winner have been determined this week without trust among the players and coaches, openness to tough coaching, the whole team working together, players focusing on their specific positions, and getting players around the bases to get the top score? Every workplace can benefit from these team behaviors as well. Lencioni's research proves it: Companies who prepare their leaders to overcome these 5 common workplace dysfunctions, improve the culture and see huge financial gains. Invest in your leaders today. Your bottom line will thank you! Click here to learn more about the painful cost of team dysfunction.