2 - Why Employees Disengage — and What Great Leaders Do Instead with Lisa Daijo

On this episode of Coalescence Podcast with Jessica Culo, Jessica welcomes Lisa Daijo, co-owner of multiple award-winning staffing and recruiting organizations in Hawaii, for an insightful conversation about leadership, human behavior, and the power of truly understanding people at work. Drawing on nearly two decades of building one of Hawaii's Best Places to Work, Lisa shares why culture isn't created through policies or perks alone—it comes from intentional leadership, meaningful relationships, and taking the time to understand what motivates each individual. From personality assessments and appreciation styles to coaching conversations and employee development, she reveals the practices that have helped her build high-performing, deeply connected teams. The conversation also explores the complexities leaders face in today's workplace, including disengagement, generational differences, neurodiversity, and the assumptions that often prevent leaders from seeing the real reasons behind employee behavior. Lisa shares personal stories about how raising her son with autism transformed her perspective on leadership, empathy, and the importance of asking better questions before jumping to conclusions. Whether you're leading an organization, managing a team, or simply trying to better understand the people around you, this episode offers thoughtful and practical insights into creating workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Coalescence 00:01:27 Meet Lisa Daijo: Building Award-Winning Workplace Cultures in Hawaii 00:04:47 Creating an Ohana Culture and Understanding Employee Motivation 00:08:29 The Power of One-on-One Conversations and Human Connection 00:11:00 Asking Better Questions to Empower Employees 00:13:22 Understanding Disengagement: Is It Will, Skill, or Something More? 00:16:14 Why Great Hiring Requires Patience and Intention 00:17:07 Generational Differences and Leading with Curiosity Instead of Assumptions 00:20:26 Neurodiversity in the Workplace and Seeing People Differently 00:24:08 How Motherhood and Autism Shaped Lisa's Leadership Philosophy 00:28:05 The Dangers of Assumptions and the Need for Deeper Understanding 00:30:13 Advice for New Leaders: Know Yourself First 00:32:48 AI, Curiosity, and Preparing for the Future of Work If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Coalescence Podcast so you never miss a conversation exploring the intersection of leadership, human behavior, emerging technologies, and the future of work. Connect with Jessica Culo: Website: www.axiomintelligence.ca LinkedIn:   / jessica-culo-b365806   🎯 Take Action & Connect with Tom O’Neill Inspired by this discussion on teamwork, feedback, and high-performance organizations? Take a moment to reflect on the dynamics within your own team. What opportunities exist to improve communication, strengthen accountability, and create a culture where people can perform at their best? Connect with Lisa Daijo: Website: www.expresspros.com/us-hawaii-pearl-city-honolulu/ LinkedIn:   / lisa-daijo-7a9a06b