"That's not a blip-it's a warning signal for leaders and cultures. When emptiness shows up at work, our reflex is to pathologize: "Is this burnout? Do I need a diagnosis?" Sometimes, yes-clinical conditions require clinical care. However, many of today's struggles are fundamentally philosophical, centered on issues such as purpose, values, identity, and the meaning of life. Those don't always need a medical label; they need better questions."
"Disengagement is expensive. Gallup estimates that low engagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion annually, nearly 9% of global GDP. Manager engagement is also slipping, dropping three points in 2024, with a ripple effect on teams. The human cost? Teams feel flat, leaders are running on fumes, and organizations are mistaking busyness for progress. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke refers to our current moment as a "meaning crisis"-a cultural shortfall in making sense of our lives."
Only 21% of employees worldwide are engaged and one in three report thriving, indicating widespread workplace disengagement. Low engagement costs the global economy an estimated $8.8 trillion annually, and manager engagement declined, worsening team performance. Many employees experience emptiness—present and meeting obligations yet disconnected from purpose—which often reflects a philosophical crisis about purpose, values, and identity rather than clinical burnout. Philosophy-based approaches at work involve structured reflection when leaders feel stuck, offering different questions about meaning alongside therapy when clinical care is needed. Such approaches treat emptiness as a signal prompting exploration of values and purpose to restore engagement.
Read at Fast Company
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