How 'Building Trust' and Relationships Can Triple Employee Engagement

Despite billions spent on pulse surveys and engagement platforms, engagement levels remain stubbornly low. Why? Because the real game-changer isn’t a dashboard or tool — it’s the manager sitting just a desk away. We often diagnose the gaps, but then step back, expecting managers to fix them with little support. That’s like telling someone they have a health issue but not giving them the right prescription. It doesn’t work. Remote work has made building trust and relationships harder, pushing the importance of human connection even higher. It’s about nurturing those everyday moments of support and genuine connection — the foundation of trust, productivity, and retention. In this episode, Jen Lipsey discusses the disconnect between employee engagement tools and actual leadership behaviors. She emphasizes the importance of managers' role in fostering trust, connection, and engagement, especially in remote and hybrid work environments, and offers practical strategies for leaders to improve team resilience and performance. Want to deepen your leadership journey? You’ll find two FREE mini-courses designed to elevate your leadership skills and a powerful leadership quiz to help you understand how you show up in the world, personally and professionally. Explore now: www.wilempowered.com, www.wilempowered.com/free-mini-course/ Chapters 00:00 The Engagement Dilemma 03:04 The Role of Managers in Engagement 05:56 Hiring for Engagement 08:32 The Manager's Journey 11:37 Actionable Insights for Managers 14:44 The Prescription Problem 17:31 Data vs. Action 20:21 Leadership Blind Spots 23:04 The Human Element in AI Integration 26:49 Understanding Social Batteries 31:18 The Importance of Connection in the Workplace 34:59 Prioritizing People Over Tasks