What is the most profound challenge facing business today? Inflation? Interest rates? Economic growth? No, these are exogenous and transitory issues. Supply chains? Shifting consumer demands? Think again. The most important obstacles inhibiting success are internal. Leaders are told to "burn bright"; instead, they burn out, feeling that the burden of success rests on their shoulders alone. Every organization must confront a trinity of issues, if it wishes to succeed in the 21st century:
- The Disengagement Pandemic. Globally, only 1 in 5 employees is actively engaged in their work and committed to their company's success. A disengaged workforce impacts productivity, affects mental health and is estimated to cost the US economy more than $8 trillion annually.
- Human 'Resources'. Companies proclaim, "People are our best resource!" but they do not walk the talk. Employees are treated as a cost and resource to manage, not as individuals with valuable inputs to share and careers to grow.
- Miscommunication and misalignment. How many times have you embarked on a project, only to discover, months later, that you and your teammates have gone in different directions? Alignment snafus routinely cost companies money and time.
