151 | Building Employee Loyalty That Lasts | Scott McInnes & Stephen Baer

In this week's episode, host Scott McInnes has an insightful conversation with Stephen Baer, founder of Engagency, as they explore the core principles behind building resilient organisational cultures that thrive on trust, purpose, and people-centered leadership. 

In this episode, you'll learn: 

• The true drivers of employee engagement and retention 

• The role of middle management in fostering a culture of trust 

• Strategies to communicate purpose and strategy effectively 

• Leadership behaviours that inspire and empower teams 

• The impact of organisational culture on financial performance 

• Practical tips for small organisations to deepen connection 

Key Takeaways: 

• Why the "Velcro vs. glue" analogy is essential for understanding employee retention 

• Insights into why 79% of employees are disengaged and how to change that 

• The importance of investing in middle management training and emotional intelligence 

• How trust and vulnerability in leadership can transform company culture 

• Real-world examples from Microsoft and Home Depot illustrating leadership's impact on performance 

• Practical steps for leaders to connect with even the most privacy-focused employees 

• The secret to storytelling and recognition that boosts engagement internally 

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 

 01:23 - Why do people stay or leave organisations? The trillion-dollar engagement question 

 02:41 - Building organisational loyalty with glue vs. Velcro analogy 

03:56 - Why engagement metrics haven't improved over years 

04:26 - The three critical components of business success: purpose, strategy, people 

05:57 - The importance of investing in middle management and leadership training 

06:46 - Cultivating a feedback-rich environment for younger generations 

08:43 - How leadership tone from the top influences culture