Kris Erickson on the Truth About Employee Engagement

In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with Kris Erickson, cofounder of Workforce Science Associates and author of The Enduring Impact: The Art and Science of Crafting an Exceptional Employee Experience, to explore what engagement at work truly means and why it shapes far more than productivity. Drawing on 30 years of research and one of the largest global employee feedback databases, Kris explains how trust, purpose, and leadership alignment determine whether people thrive or quietly disengage.

Kris shares the personal turning point that pushed her to pursue meaningful work, including a moment when she had only 85 cents for gas and decided she needed a different future for herself and her son. From there, the conversation moves into the real drivers of engagement: leaders who clearly answer three essential questions. Where are we headed. Why are we going there. What does this mean for you. When leaders communicate with clarity and consistency, teams feel steadier even in uncertain times.

Joe and Kris also tackle what happens when trust breaks in seconds after taking years to build, why middle managers serve as the linchpin between senior leadership and frontline teams, and how engagement surveys can act as an early warning system rather than a box-checking exercise. The episode closes with a sharp distinction between happiness and fulfillment at work. Happiness shifts with circumstance. Fulfillment comes from growth, challenge, and meaningful contribution.