Want a Better Team? Start With a Better YOU

Across every industry and geography, the data tells a consistent story: employee engagement is alarmingly low. Gallup reports that over 70% of employees are either disengaged or actively discontent at work. But beneath the statistics lies a deeper truth—most employees are not fed up with work. They are fed up with leadership.

In my own career, particularly during my time in operational leadership, I often heard the same refrain from HR: “Johan, just be nicer to your staff.” While well-intentioned, it missed the mark. Leadership is not about being liked. It’s about being trusted. And trust doesn’t come from tone—it comes from intent.

I learned this the hard way. I was once known as the “angry bird” leader—tough, direct, results-driven. But it wasn’t until I encountered the Leadership by Intent model, developed by Etsko Schuitema and shared through the Schuitema framework, that I realized what was missing.

One story struck me profoundly: a mine manager who led with extreme toughness—yelling, swearing, even physically intervening. And yet, his team stood by him. Why? Because they knew he would walk into a burning hostel to protect them. He cared. He bled for them. His intent was never in doubt.

That’s the paradox: toughness is tolerated when care is unquestioned. But in most workplaces today, the inverse is true—we are “nice,” yet disconnected. We manage process but not people. We chase performance but ignore purpose.

This is where leadership transformation begins.

At ActionCOACH, we work with leaders to rebuild trust, engagement, and performance—not through perks or policies, but through purpose-driven leadership. Programs like Team Engagement are designed to help leaders shift from compliance to commitment, from managing to truly leading.

If you wouldn’t bleed for your team, then maybe it’s time to rethink how you lead.