New report sheds light on deepening engagement crisis among leaders
Nearly half of leaders would give up their titles just to feel engaged at work, according to a new report, which highlights the growing engagement crisis among leadership.
The 2025 Workplace Engagement Report from Kahoot! revealed that 46% of leaders would sacrifice their management role to feel more engaged.
Another 26% also said they have considered quitting their job in the last year due to disengagement.
"If leaders are ready to trade away their title for the chance to feel engaged, it signals something profound," said Eilert Hanoa, CEO of Kahoot!, in a statement.
According to the report, only 47% of managers and above feel fully engaged at work. More than a third (34%) also report burnout as a daily or weekly experience.
"Interestingly, leaders say the biggest driver of manager disengagement is emotional exhaustion from trying to motivate disengaged employees, showing how declining engagement at the top or bottom can create a vicious cycle for the entire team," the report read.
Hardest employees to engage
The majority of leaders (61%) said the hardest generation to engage with is Gen Z, with 38% saying keeping this generation engaged consistently is their top cause of burnout.
"Energising Gen Z employees is critical to developing the leaders of tomorrow," the report read.
"To succeed, organisations need strategies that resonate with their communication styles, interests, and preferred learning methods, such as gamification and other interactive experiences."
The majority (69%) also said recognition and incentives can help improve engagement among their teams. Other measures include:
- More social or team connection (57%)
- Friendly competition and gamification (44%)
- Better communication from leadership (40%)
- More collaborative meetings (38%)
What could improve engagement
Within leadership, the report underscored that leaders also need a "new approach to engagement."
More than half (58%) of leaders said having greater energy, creativity, or fun in their day-to-day work would make them feel more engaged personally.
Others said they want more opportunities to grow their skills (52%) and better technology to connect with their teams (48%).
"Leaders are telling us loud and clear that recognition, training and connection matter more than status. Engagement cannot be a side project," Hanoa said. "If engagement fails at the top, it fails everywhere. The companies that respond will not only retain their leaders but unlock the energy of entire teams."
