In the ever-evolving landscape of organisational dynamics, maintaining high levels of employee engagement stands as a paramount challenge for leaders. However, as evidenced by the disheartening tale of “Samantha”, sometimes leaders unwittingly catalyse the very disengagement they seek to avoid. Let’s delve into Samantha’s narrative and extract invaluable lessons on how not to disengage an employee.

Samantha’s journey begins within a semi-government organisation, where she, a seasoned procurement professional, finds herself amidst a series of leadership tumults. Initially recruited by her manager’s manager, she steps into her role with optimism, only to find her manager conspicuously absent, leaving her to bridge the gaps.

Unexpectedly, both her immediate manager and manager’s manager exit the organisation, thrusting Samantha into an acting manager role. Despite her competence, Samantha harbors no aspirations of climbing the corporate ladder, content with contributing as a high-performing team member.

However, the plot thickens when Samantha is encouraged to apply for the permanent managerial position. After a seemingly promising interview process, she receives an offer that not only falls short of her expectations but also undermines her worth and experiences a slap in the face to her dedication and commitment.

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