AI tools, whether it’s ChatGPT, Claude, or Replika, are no longer just task crunchers. They’re becoming pseudo‑coworkers. People are naming them (“Deborah,” “Claude”), thanking them, venting to them, all of which are signs of emotional reliance. But here’s the catch: psychologists like Laura Greve warn that slipping into a routine of AI companionship can lead […]
Category: Employee Engagement
How One Simple Habit Can Transform You Into an Exceptional Manager
New research shows that being an exceptional manager boils down to one simple-but-powerful habit: regular, meaningful recognition. According to the 2025 State of Recognition report from Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI), only 15% of employees feel their manager recognizes them regularly. That’s a seismic opportunity for leaders willing to lean into gratitude. But here’s where it […]
The Autumn, Post-Vacation Realignment Playbook
As summer fades, so too does its easygoing vibe. It’s prime time for managers to reset energy, engagement, and focus across the team. 1. Watch for the Post-Vacation Slump Summer isn’t just sunshine, it’s distraction. Productivity routinely dips around 20% during the season, and re-entry often brings anxiousness that threatens to overwhelm. Look out for: […]
Leading with Trust: Strategies to Strengthen Workplace Connections
If your workplace isn’t built on trust, it’s built on sand. That might sound dramatic, but the data backs it up. According to Gallup’s “The World’s $8.9 Trillion Workplace Problem” report, low engagement and poor management practices are draining the global economy. Much of that stems from a simple, foundational issue: a lack of trust. […]
Quiet Vacations: Millenial Edition
Move aside, quiet quitting, it’s time to meet quiet vacations. While the term quiet quitting described a mental check-out, millennials have quietly escalated the trend. Nearly 4 in 10 secretly hit pause on work, logging in from a beach, a café abroad, or a mountain cabin, without filing a PTO request. They’re working, yet away. […]
The Gen Z Stare: What It Is and Why It’s Stirring Quiet Drama
You’ve probably seen it. A customer says “Hi,” asks a question, and the Gen Z retail worker returns a blank No smile. No acknowledgment. Just a deer-in-headlights moment. Millennials call it rude. Gen Z says it’s just a rational pause. Welcome to the “Gen Z Stare” turf war. What It Looks Like On TikTok, the viral look gets […]
The Problem With Global Disengagement, and One Way to Push Back
You’ve probably heard the phrase “quiet quitting.” But here’s the real headline: the world is full of people who are still showing up, but have mentally checked out. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report, 77% of employees globally are not engaged at work. Nearly one in five (18%) are actively disengaged. These […]
Why Engaged Managers Matter More Than You Think
We talk a lot about employee engagement. About quiet quitting. About burnout. But too often, the conversation skips over one of the biggest drivers of all three: management. The truth is simple. Engaged teams don’t happen by accident. They happen when they’re led by managers who are present, empowered, and emotionally invested in their people. […]
When Leaders “Quiet Work” Through Vacation, Everyone Pays the Price
There’s a new buzzword floating through corporate circles: quiet working. What is Quiet Working? Quiet working is a term originally pointed to employees working during scheduled time off. Not just scanning emails or fielding the odd emergency, but actively contributing from behind the scenes, without telling anyone. But let’s flip the lens. What happens when […]
Quiet Cracking: When the Pressure at Work Becomes Too Much
There’s a new workplace trend making the rounds, and unlike its predecessors, quiet quitting, bare-minimum Mondays, or even rage applying, this one comes with a visible crack. Literally. It’s called quiet cracking. What is Quiet Cracking? Quiet Cracking describes a moment when an employee, pushed past their limits, begins to visibly unravel. They’re not screaming. […]