Vitality Premium

Organizational vitality directly drives business success, yet Gallup reports that 80% of workers worldwide feel disconnected from their work. Even modest gains in employee vitality can transform an organization's performance. When top executives and HR leaders make a sincere commitment to improving workforce engagement through concrete action plans, they can achieve remarkable results.

As a passionate business observer and coffee enthusiast, I recently witnessed firsthand how essential employee vitality is to a business's success.

In my neighborhood, there’s a modest coffee shop that consistently outshines even the most upscale establishments—despite those establishments’ prime locations, premium blends, and cutting-edge equipment. This small shop, likely generating five times the revenue per square foot compared to its competitors, is always alive with energy. Its secret? A vibrant and enthusiastic team. The staff exudes contagious positivity, constantly smiling, laughing, and effortlessly managing long queues. The person taking orders creates a lasting impression, uplifting customers' moods and making every visit a delight.

This observation mirrors a recent Gallup survey revealing that 80% of the global workforce is disengaged. That’s roughly 2.8 billion people going to work each day without passion or excitement—an alarming statistic that underscores the widespread lack of employee engagement.

From my own experiences, this data feels strikingly accurate. Many corporations appear to be sitting on an untapped goldmine of potential, yet they continue searching elsewhere for growth and profits. The real question is: What are business leaders doing to unlock this potential? Do they even recognize the opportunity—or care?

Conversations with friends about their workweeks often reveal the same recurring issues: stories of uninspired leadership. They share tales of leaders who constantly change direction, react impulsively, issue subtle threats, or push employees to overwork for meaningless deliverables. These anecdotes underscore a profound disconnect between leadership and workforce engagement—a disconnect that can make or break a business.

The good news is that even small improvements can lead to transformative results. If CxOs and CHROs commit to fostering workforce vitality with genuine intent and actionable strategies, the impact could be extraordinary.

© Saip Eren Yilmaz, 2025