A key differential between a staffer who feels like a valuable part of a company and one who is disengaged is the quality of leadership in the workplace.
70% of U.S. employees say they feel either "not engaged" or "actively disengaged" at work, according to a recent survey by the Gallup Organization. Business units with such a large number of dissatisfied employees "have more absenteeism and lower productivity--as well as 51% higher turnover rates than those with engaged employees," says James Harter, chief scientist for Gallup's international management practice.
Managers who focus on talent assign their employees to jobs that play to their strengths, make sure they have the resources they need to perform well, respect their opinions and push them to advance.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, March 19, 2007