In my research, every organization eventually faces a time that reveals whether employee engagement is cultural or cosmetic. For me, that started on a cold Tuesday afternoon. I was in my office wrapping up for the day. I had just reviewed my presentation notes one last time before heading home for the day.You see, the next day I was scheduled to travel to Cleveland to speak at an HR conference. The organizers expected very strong attendance, so they asked me to speak twice, both Thursday and Friday. I was e ...

Here's a picture of my children taken some 20 years ago. They're my pride and joy. This captured moment uh captures them as the little cherabs they wore. But yet, when bedtime would come around and it was time for them to pack it in, our little cherubs would transform into weepy, inconsolable puddles. I see that perhaps some of you can relate. This nightly pattern continued until we were utterly exasperated. Then one night, I did what any good dad would do. I sat them down and said, "Kids, we need to have a ...

Knowing what workers are thinking is an important goal. But surveys only work if employees believe they are a worthwhile use of their time https://t.co/lVzJeuBiBeIllustration: Paul Blow https://t.co/Ob48Sm9VMn ...

[applause] Chief collaborator experience officer. Not many people have that title. In fact, a few searches on LinkedIn and Google showed me that I may be the only one in the world. When I meet up with other heads of HR at networking events or professional peer groups, I wear the little sticker with my name and my title and I get a lot of strange looks like maybe I don't belong or maybe I'm in the wrong place. Why am I there? Um, so in a sea of chief human resource officers, vice presidents of HR, and even a ...

Core Insights - Alimentation Couche-Tard has been awarded the 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) Winner With Distinction, marking the fifth consecutive year the company has received this recognition, highlighting its commitment to employee engagement and workplace culture [1][1][1] Company Overview - Couche-Tard operates in 29 countries and territories with nearly 17,300 stores, approximately 13,200 of which offer road transportation fuel, making it one of the largest independent convenience store operators in the U.S. and a leader in the convenience store industry in Canada and several European regions [1][1][1] - The company employs around 149,500 people across its network, emphasizing its significant workforce and operational scale [1][1][1] Employee Engagement - The Gallup research indicates that organizations prioritizing both people and performance are better positioned for long-term success, with highly engaged organizations outperforming their peers in various business outcomes such as customer ratings, profitability, and productivity [1][1][1] - The Chief People Officer of Couche-Tard stated that the ongoing efforts to foster employee engagement are yielding intensified results, creating a workplace where employees feel valued and can thrive [1][1][1] Strategic Initiatives - Couche-Tard's partnership with Gallup through the myVOICE employee engagement survey provides insights that lead to meaningful actions, contributing to a culture where employees see the impact of their voices [1][1][1] - The President and CEO of Couche-Tard highlighted that the company's culture and people are its competitive advantage, especially in a fast-changing marketplace [1][1][1]

Group 1: Leadership and Roles - Frank J. Bisignano has taken on the dual role of commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and CEO of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), overseeing two of the largest government agencies with significant budgets [1][3] - Bisignano's background includes leadership positions in major financial institutions and fintech companies, such as CEO of Fiserv and First Data, and co-COO of J.P. Morgan Chase [2] Group 2: Agency Operations and Budget - The SSA is the largest retirement system globally, disbursing $1.5 trillion annually to over 70 million beneficiaries, while the IRS collects more than $5 trillion in annual taxes, funding over 90% of federal operations [3] - The combined operating budgets of the SSA and IRS exceed $30 billion, with a workforce of around 150,000, highlighting the need for improved efficiency and customer service [4] Group 3: Modernization Efforts - Bisignano is focusing on modernizing the IRS by implementing a technology-driven approach to tax administration, drawing from his experience in digital transformations [5] - This modernization could lead to faster processing times and more data-driven enforcement, necessitating upgrades in systems, controls, and outreach strategies for companies and advisors [6]

Core Insights - Employee engagement in the U.S. has significantly declined from a peak of 36% in 2020 to 31% in 2025, equating to approximately 8 million fewer actively engaged workers [9] - The decline in engagement is most pronounced among younger workers, with Generation Z and younger millennials experiencing an 8-point drop, and older millennials seeing a 9-point decrease [3] - Key factors contributing to disengagement include a lack of clarity about job expectations and a feeling of being cared for as individuals [9] Engagement Trends - The percentage of Generation Z and younger millennials who feel their supervisor cares about them as a person fell by 13 points over five years [4] - Opportunities for learning and growth at work decreased from 48% in 2020 to 37% in 2025 [4] - Engagement among Generation X dropped by 6 points, while baby boomers showed no change [3] Employee Expectations - Many millennials express satisfaction in their current roles but are open to leaving for better pay, clearer growth paths, or improved learning opportunities [5] - A significant portion of workers indicated that better communication would help them understand work expectations, alongside the need for improved leadership direction and recognition [6] - Supportive relationships and respect at work were highlighted as crucial for employees feeling cared for, with lesser emphasis on pay and benefits [7] Organizational Challenges - The decline in employee engagement marks a reversal of a decade-long trend of improvement prior to the COVID-19 pandemic [8] - Organizations are facing challenges in maintaining clarity in role expectations and enhancing the overall work experience [8]

Employee Engagement - Gallup research in 2022 indicates employees receiving meaningful feedback are more likely to be fully engaged [1] - As of May 2025, only 29% of respondents reported receiving praise at work in the previous week [1] Recommendations - The report suggests exploring effective praise strategies to improve employee engagement [1]

Business Coaching & Leadership Philosophy - Traditional success metrics focused on long hours are challenged, advocating for efficiency and peace of mind [1][2] - True leadership is defined by a business's ability to operate effectively without constant owner intervention [2][7] - Freedom (time, money, self-expression) is the initial motivation for business owners, but often becomes a trap [3] Problem Identification - Many business owners wish for vacations free from work interruptions [3] - 34% of Indian businesses have almost zero documentation processes [5] - Two-thirds of businesses are still dependent on the business owners for day-to-day operations [5] - Business owners get caught up in ERP, CRM, Google Sheets, targets, and networking events [6] The Empire Framework (People, Processes, Technology) - The Empire framework is a six-pillared approach to building a business that runs, grows, and learns independently [7] - **E**ngagement: Focus on purpose, empathy, care, trust, acknowledgement, and appreciation to align with the values of the millennial generation [8][9] - **M**anaging Millennials: Optimize team size and acknowledge their need for purpose and public recognition [10][11] - **P**rocesses: Humanize business processes by customizing and evolving them instead of simply copying templates [12][13] - **I**nspiration: Emphasize intentionality and genuine interest in contributing to society [15][16] - **R**etention: Build a positive learning culture with group discussions, capacity building, and skill development [17][18][19] - **E**mpowerment: Skill development in AI is crucial; AI will not replace businesses, but those using AI smartly will [20][21][23] AI & Digital Transformation - Businesses should embrace AI tools to empower teams and automate repetitive tasks [21][22] - AI can make teams limitless, especially with the millennial and Generation Z workforce [23] - Digital transformation is a choice between using AI for business growth or becoming obsolete [23] Scaling & Growth - Business growth requires founders to "let go" and empower their teams [24] - The key is "peace with performance," not just success [25] - Focus on building systems for success and freedom [27]

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