Everyone wants “engaged employees”… but almost no one can clearly define what engagement actually is. In this episode, David and William unpack why engagement has become one of the most measured—and most misunderstood—concepts in modern organizations. From burnout and belonging to relationships and coaching, this conversation challenges leaders to stop chasing survey scores and start creating the conditions where people can actually bring their whole selves to work.

Key Topics:

•    Engagement is not enthusiasm or compliance
It’s about how much of yourself you feel safe bringing to work—emotionally, mentally, and physically. 

•    Burnout and engagement are two sides of the same coin
You can’t fix burnout without understanding engagement, and you can’t boost engagement by ignoring burnout. 

•    Relationships drive engagement
Both the number of workplace relationships and the depth of those relationships matter. 

•    Engagement is environmental, not motivational.
When people disengage, it’s rarely because they don’t care—it’s because the conditions make caring hard. 

•    Coaching multiplies engagement
Leaders who coach well (across different styles) create belonging, meaning, and momentum. 

•    Leaders don’t create engagement directly
They create (or destroy) the conditions where engagement can exist.