Employee Engagement: Engage your Managers First

Employee engagement fell in 2024, and manager engagement was a key factor in this decline according to Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report. The report, which surveyed 227,347 employees across the world, argues that manager engagement is the key to reversing declining productivity, improving employee wellbeing and unlocking trillions in economic potential.  

The State of the Global Workplace report points to a workforce that is increasingly disconnected. The percentage of engaged employees fell from 23% to 21%, this is equal to the decline seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But manager engagement saw the sharpest decline in any category, falling from 30% to 27%.  For managers below the age of 35, engagement declined by 5% and female managers saw engagement drop by 7%. 

This lack of engagement will be a concern for business leaders who want a productive and positive workplace. None more so than the UK, where only 1 in 10 employees are reported to be engaged.    

And the reward for reversing this trend is significant. Gallup believe that if all employees were fully engaged $9.6 trillion (USD) would be added to the global economy. This figure is the equivalent of 9% in global GDP. 

So how can business leaders tackle this issue and create a more productive and profitable workplace? 
 
Gallup identified 3 ways to tackle the decline in manager engagement.  

1.Management Training 

First and foremost, ensure all managers receive management training. 

Looking at a global scale Gallup found that 44% of managers are not trained in management, while the Chartered Management Institute claimed in 2023 that 82% of UK managers lacked training.  

Anthony Painter, the CMI’s director of policy, commented on the issue “Improving the performance of UK managers is crucial to preventing toxic workplace cultures developing, where bad behaviour goes unchecked.” 

The Help to Grow: Management Course was developed specifically to help address the gap in leadership and management knowledge. Since its launch in 2021, the programme has helped thousands of senior managers develop leadership knowledge, skills and mindset.  

Lisa Bell a Director at Progression Solicitors found herself being considered for the role of Managing Director, and turned to the course to help her in that transition “I feel the course has given me the skills to succeed in the new position; before I was honestly unsure that I would be a good fit. I’m now in a position that if something comes up within the business, I’ll likely have the skills to deal with it because of Help to Grow: Management."  

2. Coaching and leadership techniques 

The study found that impactful coaching techniques boost manager performance by between 20% and 28%. It also saw that “participants in a manager training course focused on management best practices experienced up to 22% higher engagement than non-participants.” 

Having the ability to lead and galvanise a team is essential in boosting productivity. Importantly, this doesn’t have to be an innate and can be developed through the learning of coaching techniques. 

3. Wellbeing  

Management training not only aids future leaders, but can also support those already in position.  

Gallup found that wellbeing in management improved through development, “When employers provide manager training, it improves manager thriving levels from 28% to 34%. However, if they have training and someone at work actively encourages their development, manager thriving increases even further to 50%.  

“When we consider the additional influence of great managers on their teams, manager training and development may be one of the most effective ‘wellbeing initiatives’ employers can invest in.” 

If you want to engage or develop yourself or your managers so that you have a more productive workplace, the Help to Grow: Management Course is for you. Find out more here.