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Why Employees Are Disengaged (79%) — How Leaders Can Overcome Skepticism and Rebuild Trust
Description
Why are 79% of employees disengaged at work—and what can leaders actually do about it?
In this solo episode of Time to Reset , Penny Zenker breaks down one of the most overlooked drivers of disengagement: skepticism.
This isn’t about attitude—it’s about attention patterns shaped by past experiences, broken trust, and workplace dynamics. When skepticism takes hold, it limits innovation, slows decision-making, and quietly erodes collaboration.
Penny shares:
- Why skepticism is rising in today’s workplace
- How it impacts trust, performance, and leadership effectiveness
- The neuroscience behind threat, focus, and disengagement
- The connection between skepticism and the “Nitpicker Effect”
- 5 practical leadership strategies to rebuild trust and re-engage your team
If you’re a leader, executive, or team manager navigating disengagement, low trust, or resistance to change—this episode gives you a clear, actionable framework to shift from doubt to possibility.
What creates skepticism for you at work?
What has helped you rebuild trust in a leader or organization?