Fixing the $8.8T Engagement Deficit & The Science of Connection - Stephen Baer

Why are modernworkplaces more technically connected than ever through Slack, Zoom, andautomated CRMs, yet global employee disengagement costs the world economy anastounding $8.8 trillion every year—and how do leaders move from surface-levelperks to unbreakable emotional commitment? Stephen Baer is a behavioral expert, Co-Founder andManaging Partner of Engagency, former executive atAtari and General Electric (where he earned a Six Sigma Black Belt), and authorof the book Stickology: How to Build Unbreakable Connections with Employeesand Customers for Life. With more than 30 years spent studying humanmotivation and activation, Stephen treats engagement not as corporate fluff,but as an operational system that must be deliberately designed. He reveals whyping-pong tables and free snacks act as weak "Velcro" that fails tomask toxic cultures, and why building lasting "glue" starts withservant leadership and coaching. In this episode of FailCraft, Stephen joins Ezekiel to unpack the systemicengagement deficit in business. He contrasts algorithm-driven connection withpurpose-driven engagement (comparing Shein to Life is Good), analyzesleadership turnarounds at Microsoft and Home Depot, and provides an actionable3-part operational framework—Greet Them, Know Them, GrowThem—to close the engagement gap. In this episode of FailCraft,you will discover:·        The$8.8 Trillion Engagement Deficit: Why 79% of employees worldwide remain emotionally disconnected[03:06 / 04:49]. ·        Velcrovs. Glue: Why transactionaloffice perks fail when leadership culture is toxic [05:08 / 07:00]. ·        TheInternal Mirage: Why external customerloyalty mirrors internal employee experience [07:23 / 08:41]. ·        OperationalizingPurpose: Why 60% of newmanagers fail within two years and how coaching bridges the gap [09:02 /10:22]. ·        Connectionvs. Engagement in the Age of AI: Comparing the business models of Shein and Life is Good [11:00/ 13:40]. ·        Leadershipas an Emotional Thermostat:Case studies on Microsoft, Home Depot, and Trader Joe's [14:04 / 17:29]. ·        TheStickology Framework: Applying "GreetThem, Know Them, Grow Them" and personal user manuals [17:53 / 20:19]. Connect With Stephen Baer:·        Website& Book Hub: Explore worksheets,30 case studies, and book orders at stephenbaer.com. ·        Book: Stickology: How to BuildUnbreakable Connections with Employees and Customers for Life(Available everywhere books are sold). ·        LinkedIn: Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn (Stephen Baer). Support the Show:·        Fuel the FailCraftMission: https://iferia.nestuge.com/supportme ·        Subscribe, leave areview, and share this episode with an executive, manager, or team leader! Want to Be a Guest onFailCraft?·        Connect with Ezekielon PodMatch: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/failcraft Chapters:00:00 Introduction:Stephen Baer & Stickology01:51 PrioritizingPeople: Employees, Customers, and Sustainable Growth03:06 The $8.8Trillion Engagement Deficit: Connection vs. Real Engagement05:08 The Velcro Trap:Why Office Perks Cannot Fix Toxic Leadership07:23 The LoyaltyMirage: Aligning Internal Culture with Brand Truth09:02 Turning CoreValues into Daily Reality: The Manager as Coach11:00 AI Algorithmsvs. Emotional Resonance: Shein vs. Life is Good14:04 The EmotionalThermostat: Microsoft, Home Depot & Trader Joe's17:53 The 3-StepStickology Framework: Greet Them, Know Them, Grow Them20:44 RedefiningSuccess as Empowering Flat, Collaborative Organizations22:16 Connect withStephen Baer & Stickology