Purpose and vision form the heart of any organization—setting direction, purpose, and pace. But people are the heartbeat, driving energy, rhythm, and progress. Engaged employees turn intent into motion, and strategy into momentum. Without the heartbeat, even the strongest vision stands still.
When teams are engaged and motivated to improve themselves and each other, businesses see a boost in both morale and overall success. Employee engagement indicates team members feel valued and empowered. They bring fresh ideas, energy, and a strong sense of presence to their work.
So, how do you help your team become more engaged? The answer requires more than simple people management. True engagement calls for a shift—from managing people to co-creating with them.
This article considers the best ways to improve employee engagement using the multidimensional, purpose-centered principles of Co-Active Leadership.
The Connection Between Engagement and Multidimensional Leadership
The best way to improve employee engagement is to start by acknowledging a truth many leaders overlook: Employees are not one-dimensional. Neither is Leadership.
Co-Active Leadership introduces five interrelated dimensions:
- Leader Within inspires leading from purpose and authenticity.
- Leader in Front offers vision and direction.
- Leader Behind provides support and amplification.
- Leader Beside inspires partnership and collaboration.
- Leader in the Field affirms intuition and connection to systems and environments.
Each brings a distinct quality of presence and responsibility that can foster deeper connection, trust, and creativity within a team.
Data supports a holistic approach: Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report found that engaged employees are 23% more profitable and 18% more productive than their disengaged counterparts. This illustrates that engagement has its perks, but truthfully, it’s more about authenticity, connection, and shared-ownership. Co-Active Leaders know this deeply.
As Christie Mann, a CEO, Co-Founder of UpLevel Productions, and Leadership Coach, puts it, “Co-Active Leadership is all about taking responsibility for your impact, and showing up now to fulfill what you are meant to be doing in this time and space.” (source)
One way Co-Active leaders bring these employee engagement principles to life is through collaboration and synergy.
How Leaders Beside Foster Collaboration and Synergy
One of the most transformative (and underutilized) leadership dimensions is Leader Beside. It reflects a peer-based, co-creative stance, where leaders stand shoulder to shoulder with others—not above or in front of them.
Leading beside others creates space for co-creation. It removes the pressure to have all the answers and invites generative ideas and shared ownership of the outcome. When employees feel they have a voice in the process, they invest more fully in their work.
Imagine a team meeting where everyone is a contributor, not just an observer or note-taker, and the leader is listening, asking questions, and offering support, not dictating. That is Co-Active Leadership in action.
In this space:
- Team members take greater initiative.
- People build trust more quickly.
- Creative conflict becomes a strength, not a stressor.
Designing these kinds of working relationships doesn’t happen accidentally, but through intentional agreement.
Practical Tips for Boosting Morale and Productivity
The most effective ways to improve engagement aren’t necessarily grand gestures. Instead, they are consistent Co-Active practices that shape the culture over time.
Here are several grounded ways to apply Co-Active Leadership to increase engagement:
1. Start with Purpose
Begin every project, meeting, or goal with a shared understanding of why it matters. Morale and motivation increases when people see how their work connects to something bigger than a task list.
2. Practice Presence and Deep Listening
Presence is foundational to employee engagement. Presence signals respect. Slow down and truly listen. Reflect on what you hear. When people feel heard—not just managed—they invest more deeply.
3. Co-Create Feedback Loops, Not One-Offs
Don’t just give feedback—co-create ideas and solutions. Ask questions like, “What kind of feedback would be helpful right now?” and “How can we best support each other’s growth?”
4. Develop the Whole Person
Employees are more engaged when they feel safe to show up as their full selves. Support professional growth and personal development. Encourage self-reflection. Celebrate learning. Help team members activate their own Leader Within—the foundation of all other leadership dimensions.
5. Normalize the ‘Leader Behind’
Let your team lead. Empower others to shine. Step back so others can step forward, and publicly recognize their successes. Leadership isn’t diminished by sharing the spotlight—it grows stronger.
A New Model for Engagement: Purpose, Presence, Partnership
In its essence, Co-Active Leadership invites us to lead from who we are, not just what we do. Instead of asking leaders to “fix” disengaged employees, it calls forth all team members to show up more fully, take responsibility for their impact, and co-create environments where people thrive.
Best practices for improving employee engagement are rooted in a deep commitment to human potential, courageous connection, and a willingness to lead in every direction.
If you are ready to lead differently, explore how Co-Active can help you transform your Leadership, your team, and your organization.