The Manager–Employee Disconnect on Engagement and Effectiveness
How aligned are managers and employees when it comes to engagement, communication, and effectiveness at work? This global study of more than 1,300 professionals reveals where perceptions connect and where they diverge.
While managers and employees agree that communication, coaching, and collaboration are essential, they often define effectiveness differently. Managers report higher levels of engagement, but most employees say they’ve seen little change. Both groups are also navigating shared challenges: heavier workloads, constant change, and greater pressure to collaborate across functions.
Across generations, collaboration emerges as a defining workplace value, with Gen Z ranking it highest among key professional skills. These results reflect a shift toward workplaces where communication, connection, and adaptability define how work gets done.
Key Insights from the Research:
- Managers focus on achieving goals, while employees place higher importance on communication.
- 59% of managers said their engagement increased, but most employees felt it stayed the same or decreased.
- Both groups report heavier workloads, ongoing change, and collaboration as top challenges.
- Gen Z places the highest value on collaboration (60%) compared to 40–53% among older generations.
Explore the complete research findings to see where managers and employees align, where they don’t, and how your organization can turn the insights into action.
