Re-Engaging the Disengaged: Why Leadership Always Matters

From the Leadership Upgrade Podcast

Disengagement at work is one of the most common frustrations leaders face. But as our latest video snippet explores, the responsibility for rebuilding engagement always starts with the leader.

“The responsibility always sits with the leader to build that bridge for people to walk back into the land of engagement.”

When a team member disconnects — stops contributing, shows up late, or tunes out — it’s easy to write them off. But that decision only deepens the divide.

Great leaders do the opposite: they choose to see potential, even when motivation has slipped.

When we shift our mindset from judgment to curiosity — from “What’s wrong with them?” to “What might reignite their spark?” — something powerful happens.

Our attitude toward that person invites them back in. We start to see their strengths, their skills, and their value — and in turn, they start to see themselves differently too.

Leadership Insight

What we believe about people shapes how they experience us.
If we carry a negative judgment, they’ll feel it — no matter what we say. But when we look for potential, our belief becomes a bridge that others can walk across to re-engage.