Engagement Isn’t a Perk—It’s a Practice

“People don’t quit jobs—they quit bad managers.”  

It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, and for good reason: managers play a pivotal role in shaping the employee experience. They’re not just leading projects—they’re supporting the people doing the work. At their best, people managers foster engagement, satisfaction, and growth across their teams. At their worst, they’re often the reason talented individuals walk away.

At Next League we’ve always understood this truth, but Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 report makes it clearer than ever; manager engagement is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative.  When managers struggle, so do their teams. And when managers thrive, they create a ripple effect that lifts everyone around them.

The State of the Global Workplace 2025 report delivers a sobering message; global employee engagement has dropped to 21% from 23% last year.  Even more concerning is that manager engagement is in sharp decline—from 30% to 27% globally—signaling a ripple effect that threatens team performance, retention, and business outcomes.

What We Did: Building Better Managers from the Inside

Why does this matter so much? Because managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement. When our managers are supported, their teams thrive. When they’re not, disengagement spreads.

That’s why we invested early in our managers, launching Think Like a Coach in 2024. This year-long development program is rooted in the belief that great managers are great coaches—clear communicators, emotionally intelligent leaders, and trusted guides through complexity and change.

Our curriculum combines monthly sessions led by internal leaders and external experts, covering high-impact topics like emotional intelligence, difficult conversations, active listening, delegation, feedback, and situational leadership. 

Our first cohort finished strong, and we’re gearing up to launch our second round this summer. This isn’t just a training series—it’s an important way we grow talent. It’s our way of saying that leadership isn’t about hierarchy but connection. And we’re setting up our managers to lead with clarity, care, and confidence.

The result? A stronger, more confident community of managers who feel supported and empowered—not just to lead but to grow. 

Here’s what a few had to say:

“In a time of constant industry change and uncertainty, the manager training program has been a huge support. It empowered managers to navigate complexity with confidence and adapt with empathy. Thanks to this program, I feel better equipped to lead through diverse challenges with creative solutions—while keeping people at the center of every decision.”

“The management training program helped me slow down, listen more, and lead with more empathy, clarity and confidence.”

“The Think Like a Coach program sharpened my leadership instincts and gave me the confidence to lead more intentionally.”

“I’m really grateful for having this course, it definitely helped me to grow my theoretical knowledge, the practical exercises were great and fun, and it also showed me how others are dealing with similar problems, and how awesome our team is.”

What’s Next: Engagement Is Everyone’s Job

At Next League, we don’t just architect and operate complex technologies for the largest sports brands in the world—we build community and culture for our people. Engagement is everyone’s responsibility and when we invest in our managers, we set the tone for an organization where people thrive.

Gallup estimates that global engagement would unlock $9.6 trillion in productivity worldwide if it rose to best-practice levels. That’s not just good culture - that’s good business.

We don’t just work in a people-first industry—we are a people-first organization. For our clients, for our teams, and for every individual who’s building the future of sports and technology with us.

We keep showing what’s possible when we put people first.