Workplace engagement is a hot topic right now - and with good reason. Gallup’s recently published State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report reveals a concerning downward trend in employee engagement worldwide, with managers hit the hardest.
According to the report, manager engagement has dropped from 30% to 27% in just one year. No other demographic group (whether male vs female, young vs older workers) experienced such a sharp decline. This matters because managers play a pivotal role in shaping team morale, performance, and overall workplace culture.
Why Manager Engagement Matters
Managers are the link between strategy and execution. When they are disengaged, it has a ripple effect across their teams, driving down motivation, productivity, and customer service standards. Yet Gallup reports that less than half of the world’s managers (44%) have ever received management training.
That lack of support has real consequences. Gallup’s findings suggest that by teaching managers effective coaching techniques, performance can increase by 20–28%, with measurable results lasting up to 18 months after training. Even more compelling, teams led by trained managers experienced an 18% boost in engagement.
The Power of Coaching for Engagement
So, what’s the secret to improving both manager and team engagement? Coaching. Unlike traditional management training, coaching focuses on practical behaviours that drive real performance improvements. It helps managers shift from directing tasks to inspiring and developing people, which not only engages teams but also creates more resilient, motivated leaders.
How Performance in People Can Help
At Performance in People, we’ve developed a fast, sustainable, and results-driven approach to building coaching capability: CBX (Coaching and Behaviours for Service Excellence).
Our award-winning mystery shopping programmes have already helped organisations raise customer service standards, and CBX complements this by giving managers the coaching tools they need to sustain those improvements. Through engaging workshops and practical behavioural frameworks, managers learn to:
- Develop authentic coaching conversations
- Drive higher levels of team engagement
- Embed service excellence at every customer touchpoint
The result? Stronger managers, more motivated teams, and consistently better customer experiences.
Ready to Transform Engagement in Your Organisation?
If you’re looking to boost manager engagement and unlock the potential of your teams, CBX is a proven solution.
📅 NEW: We have a CBX open course on 3rd December, perfect for managers and leaders looking to upskill and make an immediate impact!
👉 Contact Jenna, Head of Training, at [email protected] to learn more.
