From Passive to Engaged: How to Wake Up a Checked-Out Team
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Is your team showing up—but checked out? In this powerful, honest episode, Mark, Christine, and Jon unpack what it really takes to re-engage a team that's gone passive. From leadership self-reflection to building team rhythms that foster ownership, this episode is full of real talk and real tools for leaders ready to reignite energy, trust, and accountability in their people.
Whether you're seeing apathy, burnout, gossip, or just plain disengagement, this conversation equips you to lead with clarity, care, and consistency—starting from within.
Key Takeaways:
Red Flags of Disengagement
Apathy, gossip, avoidance, lack of ownership—your team isn’t just tired, they’re checked out. And pretending otherwise won’t fix it.
Communication is Culture
Disconnected teams don’t just lack direction—they lack a communication standard. Set expectations. Normalize clarity.
Leadership is Reflection
Your team is mirroring you. If they’re disengaged, tired, or reactive… check the mirror. Where are you not showing up fully?
Connection Before Correction
You’re leading humans, not machines. Create space to check in personally, not just professionally.
Cadence is King
Consistency beats charisma. Weekly touchpoints, 1:1s, and structured rhythms are the glue that holds your team together—not just retreats or offsites.
Know Their Vision
It’s not enough for your company to have a mission. Do you know what drives each person on your team?
What You Tolerate, You Perpetuate
Cameras off, phones out, no solutions? If you allow it, you teach it. Set the standard. Raise the bar. Enforce it with love.
Notable Quotes:
- “Your team is always going to be a reflection of you.” – Christine Jewell
- “Sometimes leaders are so engaged in the project that they’re disengaged from the people.” – Jon Anderson
- “Energy doesn’t lie. You can’t fake it forever.” – Christine Jewell
- “The vision has to be big enough to hold the dreams of your team.” – Mark Jewell
- “Offsites are great, but consistency is what creates connection.” – Christine Jewell
Action Steps:
- Audit yourself: Where are you disengaged? Start there.
- Set expectations: Clarify your meeting and communication standards—then model them.
- Block time for people: Literally. Time-block coaching, check-ins, and vision conversations.
- Ask real questions: “How are you?” “What’s hard right now?” “What does support look like this week?”
- Normalize accountability: Cameras on, phones off, bring ideas. These aren’t suggestions—they’re standards.
Listen If You Are:
- A team leader feeling like you're doing all the heavy lifting
- Tired of micromanaging and ready to empower your people
- Ready to transform team culture from reactive to proactive
- Seeking practical ways to build trust, rhythm, and vision into your leadership
If this episode resonated with you, join us at the next Thriving Leader Event — where intentional leadership goes from theory to practice. Connect with like-minded leaders and build the clarity, confidence, and capacity you need to grow your people and business. 👉 Learn more and sign up here: https://www.themomentumcompany.com/thrivingleader2025
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