Beyond the Top-Down: Rethinking Employee Engagement from the Ground Up with Christos Malliaros

In this episode, our guest host, Anaïs Nebel sits down with Director of Self in Progress, Chris Malliaros, to delve into the ongoing challenge of employee disengagement, with only 23% of employees globally feeling genuinely connected to their work. They examine why traditional top-down approaches to engagement often fall short, creating a disconnect between organisational aspirations and the reality of employees' lived experiences. Chris highlights how many organisations focus on “culture fit” rather than empowering employees to co-create culture, leading to an engagement gap that can undermine workplace morale and motivation. Chris introduces a pioneering, holistic framework for engagement that unites workplace climate, organisational culture, and individual employee values. By leveraging psychometric tools and regular check-ins, organisations can achieve a continuous alignment between their aspirations and the actual experiences of their employees. Finally, Anaïs and Chris discuss practical steps leaders can take to embrace this ground-up approach, creating authentic engagement that stems from each employee’s unique contributions. Tune in as Anaïs dives deep with Chris Malliaros on what it truly takes to build an authentic culture from the ground up—one that goes beyond words and embodies genuine engagement every day.