Rebuilding Connection: A Cure for Workplace Disengagement with Dennis Holland, CEO of Quantum Connections

Episode Title: Rebuilding Connection: A Cure for Workplace Disengagement

In this insightful episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael Levitt and guest Dennis Holland dive deep into one of today’s most pressing workplace challenges—disengagement—and the critical need for meaningful human connection at work.

🔹 Disengagement is Costing Us Billions
With a staggering 7 out of 10 employees disengaged, organizations are facing a silent productivity crisis. Michael and Dennis unpack how this widespread disengagement results in $438 billion in lost productivity globally, urging leaders to re-evaluate their workplace cultures to attract and retain top talent.

🔹 The Engagement-Productivity Connection
Michael highlights that low employee engagement directly impacts product quality and business survival, citing how 52% of online businesses launched in 2020 have already shuttered, and half of the Fortune 500 from 2000 no longer exist. At the root: a deficit of trust, communication, and shared value.

🔹 Healing Workplaces Through Connection
Dennis shares the powerful origin story of their methodology, developed by renowned relationship experts Dr. Harville Hendricks and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. Originally designed to heal marriages, their framework has been successfully adapted to help businesses repair fractured teams and foster connection.

🔹 Measuring What Truly Matters
How do you know if employees feel connected? Dennis introduces a simple one-question survey that assesses how “seen and heard” employees feel by their leaders—a predictive tool proven to track engagement, retention, and profitability. Their team is even filing a patent on this innovative approach.

🔹 From Disconnection to Belonging
Michael and Dennis explore the deeper truth: disengagement is a symptom, not the root issue. The real challenge? A lack of psychological safety and authentic connection. Michael shares his belief that belonging is the new competitive advantage, and organizations must prioritize safe, inclusive cultures where diverse voices are valued.

🔹 Connection Is Profitable
Dennis presents compelling data: connected employees are more innovative, open, and loyal—and organizations with strong connections enjoy 38.7% higher profitability. Real change starts with cultural transformation, and their programs are designed to lead the way.

🔹 Turning Around a Toxic Culture
Michael shares a compelling case study from his leadership career—how he helped transform a toxic healthcare clinic with 86% turnover into a high-performing, collaborative team with just 6% turnover. The secret? Empowering staff to co-create solutions and lead the change.

🔹 Reimagining Healthcare Access
Michael also reflects on the power of creating safe spaces for frontline staff, particularly in underserved communities. He emphasizes investing in people, nurturing leadership potential, and designing programs rooted in empathy and trust.

🔹 The Power of Structured Dialogue
Dennis explains how structured conversations and intentional dialogue can rebuild trust and connection across organizations. Their latest report outlines how these practices significantly improve organizational health and employee performance. Michael champions these tools as game-changers for any leader ready to elevate their team culture.

🎧 Tune in now to discover how rethinking your workplace culture through the lens of connection, communication, and trust can unlock the full potential of your people—and your organization.

The New KPI CEOs Should Be Watching Isn’t in the Stock Ticker

With markets wobbling under the weight of tariff tensions, tech sector volatility, and consumer confidence hitting a 12-year low, there’s a growing undercurrent of anxiety in corporate America. But amid the macroeconomic noise, a new study points to a powerful, often-overlooked lever for growth: employee connection.

A just-released nationwide study of 12,000 U.S. employees quantifies a striking truth: employees who feel “seen” by their direct supervisors are far more likely to stay, contribute new ideas, and drive profit. It’s not compensation or perks moving the needle—it’s connection.

The research, conducted by Quantum Connections, highlights a new way to measure workplace connection—what they call the Net Connected Score (NCS). This score reflects how recognized and heard employees feel by their direct supervisors. The data suggests a clear link: companies scoring high in connection are nearly 39% more profitable, and their employees stay almost 10 months longer on average.

Key findings from the study:

Workers who feel “seen” stay almost a year longer than those who don’t
Companies with high NCS are 38.7% more profitable
Employees in connected environments are more likely to take smart risks and share new ideas
The finance industry leads the pack in connection; postal services fall behind

With corporate America laser-focused on cost containment, retention, and productivity, this research suggests a simple—and scalable—solution: better relationships between managers and their teams. Amid economic turbulence, that just might be the most stable investment a company can make.

Could the secret to keeping your best employees be as simple as making them feel seen?

Is a lack of connection at work quietly costing companies millions?

With the economy on edge, are relationships at work more valuable than raises?

Could helping employees feel seen spark the kind of innovation the U.S. economy needs right now?

Dennis S. Holland is the CEO of Quantum Connections, a company that helps businesses improve performance by strengthening employee connection.

Rebuilding Connection: A Cure for Workplace Disengagement with Dennis Holland, CEO of Quantum Connections

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