A senior manager once told how a weekly meeting had become a dreaded ritual. The team arrived, gave quick updates, and then fell into silence. Questions from the manager were met with one-word answers: “Yes.” “No.” “Not sure.” When asked for ideas, the team looked back blankly, as though saying, “You tell us.”
The meetings were frustrating, draining, and convinced her that the team lacked initiative, competencies, or intent to sabotage. What was happening, however, was disengagement.
