Employee Disengagement Solutions: Why 70% of Workers Are Checked Out & How Leaders Can Help | Martin Lesperance | 362

In this episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Martin Lesperance, an engagement specialist and interactive keynote speaker on a mission to help people fall back in love with their work. Martin shares his powerful "Four Not So Surprising Secrets" framework for rebuilding engagement, motivation, and momentum in the workplace.From the symbolism of the yellow smiley ball to practical strategies for combating the engagement crisis (which is now worse than during the pandemic), this conversation offers a refreshingly human approach to leadership. Martin explains why engagement isn't a soft skill—it's strategic, and why bringing energy back to work starts with purpose, presence, gratitude, and fun.Key Takeaways5:18 - The Yellow Ball Philosophy8:07 - The Founder Roller Coaster11:39 - The Engagement Crisis13:41 - Secret #1: Live Your Why17:32 - Finding Your Why22:32 - Secret #2: Be Present24:00 - The Smartphone Problem27:17 - Secret #3: Be Grateful31:17 - Wabi-Sabi: Beauty in Imperfection36:00 - Secret #4: Have Fun39:34 - The Seattle Fish Market Example41:50 - Making Dreams Come True45:15 - Remote Engagement ChallengesTweetable Quotes"Nobody has the permission to choose your attitude. Only you do." — Martin Lesperance"Three out of ten people are actively engaged at work. That means seven out of ten are just pushing through." — Martin Lesperance"We spend 70% of our awakened hours in work mode. If you're doing something for 70% of the time, can you at least love it?" — Martin Lesperance"Being present is a gift. There is no better present than you can give around you and yourself." — Martin Lesperance"Gratitude is an attitude. We forget these little things because of the speed of growth and objectives." — Martin Lesperance"Take what you're doing seriously, but not take yourself so seriously." — Martin Lesperance"You can have the best product in the world, but if people are disengaged, forget about scaling." — Martin Lesperance"It's a question of choice. You get to decide what you walk around with." — Martin LesperanceSaaS Leadership Lessons1. Engagement Is a Growth Issue, Not a Soft SkillWhen people stop caring, performance doesn't crash loudly—it quietly leaks out through missed details, slower execution, and "good enough" energy. With engagement at an all-time low (worse than the pandemic), leaders must treat engagement as strategically as they treat revenue metrics.2. Purpose Must Point Outward, Not InwardYour "why" isn't about you—it's about who you serve. When teams realize they're serving others (customers, colleagues, end users), the grind becomes meaningful. Help your team answer: Who do we serve? How do we serve them? What makes us proud?3. Presence Is Your Rarest Leadership CurrencyIn a world of Slack threads, Zoom boxes, and endless mental tabs, attention has become one of the rarest leadership skills. Listen to understand, not just to respond. Put down the devices. Be fully there. Someone on your team deserves more of you.4. Gratitude Is Strategic, Not CheesyGratitude creates a boomerang effect—the more you throw it out there, the more it comes back. Start with yourself (you're your own worst critic), extend it to your team, and watch how it transforms culture. Even in high-pressure SaaS environments, taking time to recognize wins matters.5. Fun Creates Psychological SafetyFun isn't jeans on Friday or free granola bars. It's a mindset that allows people to raise their hands, admit mistakes, and ask for help without fear. When teams feel safe, they perform better, innovate more, and stay longer.6. Remote Teams Need Intentional ConnectionRemote work is a huge challenge for engagement and culture. Top-performing teams do weekly one-on-ones, weekly team huddles, and daily check-ins. If connection isn't on your agenda, it won't happen. Make it non-negotiable.Guest [email protected]://martinlesperance.ca/https://www.facebook.com/martin.lesperance.inspirehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-lesperance-0355263/https://www.instagram.com/martinlesperance.ca/Episode SponsorThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel’Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/SaaS Fuel ResourcesWebsite - https://championleadership.com/Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmainsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains