When Engagement Scores Reveal What Trust Scores Would Say

When a pharmaceutical subsidiary in Japan received engagement scores of 9%—compared to 23% globally—the country head's first instinct was to blame the survey. But the real question cut deeper: If 93% of employees are disengaged, what does that reveal about trust in leadership? Through the story of Mike and his leadership team navigating cultural expectations and personal blind spots, this article explores what leaders can control when they can't control the corporate dashboard—and why waiting for the perfect trust initiative means losing the talent you can't afford to lose.

Why Your Goals Keep Not Happening …

Your goals aren't failing because you don't know what to do. They're failing because achieving them requires becoming someone you haven't yet learned to be. This is the knowing-being gap—the space between understanding what you should do and becoming who you need to be to actually do it. The transformation isn't about better planning or more willpower. It's about the courage to evolve your identity.

The CEO Who Wasn't Needed

What happens when a new CEO arrives to find the organization running smoothly without them? This isn't about crisis management or turnaround strategies - it's about the far more complex challenge of integrating into a team that has already learned to succeed independently. Through a real case study from Japan's medical device industry, we explore why joining high-performing teams often proves harder than fixing broken ones, and what leaders can do about it.

Generations at the Table: Getting Intergenerational Teams Right in Japan

Intergenerational teams are no longer the exception- they’re the reality.
We explore how to get the best out of these diverse teams by drawing on Belbin’s team role research and our work with leadership teams in Japan. From uncovering hidden strengths to navigating generational dynamics, we share what helps these teams thrive - and what holds them back.

Leadership, Teams, TransformationKarin WellbrockJune 1, 2025Leadership, Team dynamics, Team leadership

Unveiling the Knowledge Hub: Dive into Our Blogs