Guest Post: Engaged Employees: The Million-Dollar Lever Most CEOs Ignore

Most people think disengagement is a corporate problem.

But the truth is, disengagement shows up everywhere — in the boardroom, at the kitchen table, and in the solopreneur’s home office.

When you’re running a company of one (or a household of four), the same principles apply: energy, focus, and commitment are the levers that move results forward.

That’s why I’m excited to share this guest post from Joanne C Preston.

While her focus is on CEOs and teams, the lessons reach far beyond corporate walls. For parent-preneurs, creators, and anyone juggling family and business, engagement isn’t just about employees — it’s about how we show up each day.

The same practices that boost revenue in a Fortune 500 can help you protect your time, sustain your energy, and stop burnout from eating away at your goals.

Here’s Joanne!

If you run a company, you already know missed deadlines, mistakes that should’ve been caught, and projects dragging on forever. Most leaders chalk it up to “normal business friction.” It’s not.

It’s DISENGAGEMENT.

The Gallup’s 2025 poll reveals that 17% of U.S. employees are actively disengaged while up to 62% are experiencing a range of disengagement. And it's higher on a global scale!!

That’s not a rounding error — that’s the majority of the workforce. And it’s not the loud ones who cost you most. It’s the polite, quiet, mentally checked-out employees who drain your bottom line day after day.

The Hidden $5 Million Leak

Let’s put a price tag on it. Gallup estimates each disengaged worker costs about $21,000 a year in lost productivity, errors, and turnover. Run a 1,000-person company? That’s $5 million walking out the door annually.

Five million. Not in bold strategy bets. Not in R&D. Just lost in apathy.

That’s the equivalent of buying a Ferrari fleet every year — and then driving them straight into a lake.

Why SENIOR MANAGERS Should Care (More Than HR)

Disengagement isn’t an HR problem. It’s a CEO problem.

• Revenue impact: Projects slip, customers churn, growth stalls.

• Cost impact: Hiring and training replacements eats millions.

• Risk impact: Errors, delays, and compliance misses can tank enterprise value overnight.

Engagement isn’t a “soft” initiative. It’s a hard financial lever. Every percentage point you raise in engagement is money back in your pocket.

What Engaged Employees Actually Do

Engaged employees don’t just smile more. They:

• Deliver results, not excuses.

• Solve problems before they explode.

• Raise team performance by showing up with energy.

• Stick around, saving you millions in turnover costs.

They’re not fluffy culture wins. They’re profit centers in disguise.

You wouldn’t ignore a $5 million hole in your budget. Don’t ignore it when it’s disguised as disengaged employees.

Global CEOs who get this right stop bleeding cash and start unlocking growth their competitors overlook.

The Bottom Line–Get the PLAYBOOK

Here’s the kicker: engagement doesn’t need a massive reorg or a new tech platform. It’s faster and simpler than most leaders think.

This isn’t theory. It’s math. Done right, it saves millions.

👉 Want the playbook? Download Boost Revenue Through Employee Engagement. It’s short (6 pages), practical, and built for leaders who don’t have time to waste.

My thanks again to Joanne for this special guest post this week. Make sure to check out her playbook today and be sure to hit the share button below if you think other solo/entrepeneurs and business minds in your life could benefit!

Matt

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