A Message from Our CEO – July 2025

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“Tired teams don’t win.”

— Jeff Gapinski

Managers are running on fumes. The battery is draining, and warning lights are blinking. There’s fog ahead and the roads are treacherous. In a new report by Gallup and meQuilibrium, manager engagement has tapped out-- settling at a bleak 27%. Almost 3 out of 4 managers are not engaged. Ouch. And a whopping 63% of managers say their coworkers are struggling—hinting that we might be in a collective state of silent burnout.

These dire circumstances prompted the unearthing of an old term to describe the workplace in 2025: VUCA, (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity). Coined by the Army War College, it described a new dynamic Post Cold War: a more complex, multi-lateral world.

The fix? The VUCA environment won’t go away anytime soon and it won’t fix itself. Leadership needs to deploy micro-focused strategies in two areas: 1) Empathetic Management- support mental wellbeing and manage stress and 2) Build individual resilience. The antidote to VUCA might be a little less “strategic plan” and a little more “coffee and conversation.” No corporate retreats or sweeping change. Save your money. Start with smaller, human things: meaningful goals, achievable wins, and reconnecting with the people behind the job titles. 

The Navy SEALS know a little about resilience. Here is what they say contributes to their resilience: 

  • Intentional challenge

  • Psychological safety

  • Supportive leadership

  • Opportunities to recover and reflect

Hmmm.. didn’t see that coming. No, psychological safety is not “weak”. It is strategic. We are pretty sure your managers are facing challenges—intentional and unintentional. But how supportive is your leadership? Can you foster an ‘open and honest’ work environment? Can you allow your managers to fill their tank, charge their batteries? 

Think of your managers as if they were your kids. Wouldn’t you throw a lifeline if they were struggling? Or are you the kind of parent that encourages sink or swim mentality? 

Deflate. VUCA. Now.

Warren

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July 2025