What really makes engaged employees

It’s simpler than we thought.

You may have seen WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani’s claim that the most engaged employees are those eager to return to the office. The backlash was immediate and he has since walked the statement back a bit. 

But it got me thinking about employee engagement. (Ok, maybe I’m always thinking about it. 🤔) Innumerable studies and complex models have attempted to decode what yields engaged employees, from growth opportunities and resources (yes), to autonomy (yes) and a sense of purpose (yes). 

But I think there’s something else that drives employee engagement. Something that is both simpler and harder. And I think this thing is actually what matters most of all:

Engaged leaders.