High-performing organizations don't improve engagement by chance. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Ryan Englin explore why employee engagement is ultimately a leadership responsibility and how small, consistent actions can strengthen retention, trust, and business performance.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Ryan Englin discuss:

The relationship between leadership and employee engagement
Recruiting as part of an organization's marketing strategy
Building workplace cultures that improve retention
Practical approaches to gathering employee feedback
The business impact of disengagement on organizational performance

Key Takeaways:

Leaders should regularly measure engagement through short quarterly pulse surveys and communicate what actions will be taken, helping employees see that their feedback leads to meaningful change.
Frequent feedback conversations are more effective than relying solely on annual performance reviews because employees need ongoing clarity about expectations and opportunities for growth.
According to Ryan, organizations attract stronger candidates when they become workplaces people genuinely want to join rather than relying primarily on recruiting tactics.
Ryan argues that engagement grows when employees feel cared for, develop trusted workplace relationships, and have opportunities to build meaningful connections with colleagues.
Disengagement can create measurable business costs through turnover, rework, overtime, and lower productivity, making employee engagement a leadership and financial priority.

"When you have an engaged workforce, they want to work for you, and they want to continue working for you.” — Ryan Englin

About Ryan Englin:

Ryan Englin is passionate about helping growing businesses, particularly in blue-collar industries, build productive companies by hiring the right people. Growing up, he watched his father work long hours as an owner/operator and witnessed firsthand the challenges of hiring and retaining quality frontline employees. That experience inspired Ryan to help businesses find a better way.

Through his company, Core Matters, Ryan provides coaching and training on attracting, hiring, and retaining top employees. Using his Core Fit Hiring System, he helps small and midsize businesses hire better people, faster. Over nearly a decade, Ryan has worked with more than 100 clients, helping business owners achieve their hiring and growth goals.

Connect with Ryan Englin:

Website: https://corematters.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corematters/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanenglin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecorematters

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecorematters/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw

Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/

The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/

Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com

Phone: 1-800-926-7370

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