48. Why Good Employees Quietly Disengage — And What Founders Can Do About It

Episode 48: Why Good Employees Quietly Disengage — And What Founders Can Do About It

Episode 2 in the series Engaged Leaders

You usually don’t notice when good people start to detach. They still show up. They still hit their deadlines. They still check the boxes. And that’s the danger — detachment doesn’t scream. It whispers.

This episode explores how disengagement often happens with your best, most conscientious employees — the very people you think you can count on most. Through story and coaching, James shows why leaders often miss the early signs, how small moments compound into disappointment, and what you can do to re-engage before it’s too late.

This episode is for founders who sense their top people are drifting, even while the work still gets done.

• Why detachment is often invisible until it’s too late
• How “squeaky wheels” steal focus from your best performers
• The small moments that stack up and erode belief
• Why silence from your best employees isn’t always a good sign

Reflection Questions

• Who are your best people you might be taking for granted?
• What conversations are you avoiding that could re-engage them?

Links and Resources

• The Next Question Guide → NextQuestionGuide.com
• LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/jamesmayhew
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• Website → JamesMayhew.com