For years, leaders have been told to build a “great culture.” We invest in values statements, engagement surveys, and culture programs. We workshop purpose. We define behaviors. We launch initiatives. And yet burnout persists. Engagement remains stubbornly low. People still leave. The 2026 State of the Global Workplace report from Gallup tells a sobering story. Just 20 percent of employees worldwide are engaged at work — a figure that has declined for two consecutive years. Even in the U.S. and Canada — two of the highest-performing countries — only 31 percent of employees are engaged, while around half report experiencing significant stress on a daily basis. Beneath these