Understanding the Engagement Pyramid: Level 4 (What’s next for me?)
This is the fifth post in my series on the Engagement Pyramid, a framework I developed to help leaders see the different levels of engagement on their teams and understand what drives each one. If you missed any of those, start here with Neutrals. Every leader has someone on their team who just gets it. […]
Understanding the Engagement Pyramid: Level 3 (What am I capable of?)
This is the fourth post in my series on understanding the Engagement Pyramid, a framework I developed to help leaders identify and engage their people based on where they actually are, not where we wish they were. The pyramid breaks engagement into six levels, from the disengaged at the base to the fully invested leaders […]
Understanding the Engagement Pyramid: Level 1 (Hmm)
This is the second post in my series on understanding the Engagement Pyramid, a framework I developed to help leaders identify and engage their people based on where they actually are, not where we wish they were. The pyramid breaks engagement into six levels, from the disengaged at the base to the fully invested leaders […]
Understanding the Engagement Pyramid: Level N (Neutrals)
Every team has different levels of engagement. Some people show up energized and ready to contribute. Others are physically present but mentally calculating how many hours until the weekend. Understanding these differences isn’t about labeling people. It’s about recognizing where someone is so you can lead them more effectively. Over the next few blog posts, […]
Negative Nellies: How to Identify and Handle the 3 Types of Toxic Employees – Part 2
Duds and Deadbeats Duds and Deadbeats occupy the lower-left quadrant, negative on both dimensions. They’re the most straightforward Negative Nellies to identify. These are people who don’t do their job well and actively damage the culture while they’re at it. You know you’re dealing with a Dud or Deadbeat when you see: Consistently poor work […]
Negative Nellies: How to Identify and Handle the 3 Types of Toxic Employees – Part 1
Gallup’s research breaks the workforce into three categories: 31% engaged, 52% not engaged, and 17% actively disengaged. If you’ve been following along, the first two categories map neatly onto what we’ve been discussing. The 52% who are “not engaged” are your Neutrals and 1s, the folks doing just enough to avoid getting fired while mentally […]
The X+1 Principle: Small Steps Create Big Shifts in Employee Engagement
Jamie stood in the back of the conference room, arms crossed over her chest. With each passing minute, her frown deepened as she watched her carefully planned team-building session unravel before her eyes. The vibe in the room was off as half the team was barely participating, and the other half looked like they were […]
Dance Floor Theory Principle #2 – Different Levels of Engagement
My friend Kevin is the kind of guy who treats life like one big “Yes, and…” improv scene. So when he got a mysterious text on a dreary NYC morning that read: “This Saturday. Union Square. Bring a pillow in a black plastic bag. When the clock hits 3pm, take it out and start pillow […]
Dance Floor Theory Principle #1 – More Friends = More Fun
At a friend’s wedding many years ago, I watched something beautiful, and honestly, a little ridiculous, unfold. Dinner had wrapped. The cake had been cut. It was officially time for dancing. Only one problem, the dance floor was empty. Then it happened. The DJ queued up The Chicken Dance. The dance floor lit up like […]
The Disney Hug Rule That Makes Mickey Mouse a Better Leader Than Most CEOs
After 22 years of Free Hugs, I thought I knew everything about hugs. Then Mickey Mouse proved me wrong. I’ve been running the Free Hugs campaign for years on college campuses, at conferences, even random airports. I know the difference between the polite “thanks, stranger” pat and the “wow, I really needed that” embrace. But […]