What actually drives productivity, engagement, and retention in the workplace?
That was the question I wrestled with when analyzing the data of more than 150,000 employees, and in my keynote talk about high-impact teams, I share the answer.
One important piece is learning what is NOT statistically significant: pay, benefits, bonuses, recognition, and flexibility. Employees say they want those things, but when they get them, they do not actually change their behavior.
Another important piece that was NOT a factor: skills, knowledge, and abilities when entering the organization. (In other words, their resume and background.) They may have the POTENTIAL to make a greater contribution, but their ACTUAL contribution is not impacted by their SKAs.
So that’s what is NOT a factor… but what IS the key driver?
It all boils down to employee happiness – specifically the kind of happiness that is driven by alignment and connection.
Alignment with a clear vision (knowing where we are going together) and lived-out clear values (consistent in how we are doing things).
Connection with the mission (part of something bigger than ourselves) and others (belonging to part of a mutually beneficial, mutually caring community).
Want greater productivity, engagement, and retention? Focus on integrating alignment and connection into all areas of HR – from attraction to selection to onboarding to management.
Take it from a recovering actuary 🙂
Speaking Adventures
Last month was a whirlwind of adventure and connection across several industries.
It started with a fabulous day at the Total Tech Summit in Orlando, where I spoke to tech integrators and owners. It was fun to see their reaction to equating their leadership journey to embarking on an African safari.
Every adventure, including tech leadership, has elements that are amazing, annoying, scary, frustrating, and unknown – but the keys to breakthrough are always the same: clarify the experience you want, get the right peeps in the Jeep, and have the courage to do the “unright” thing. I invite everyone to approach their own adventure—in life, work, or leadership—The Safari Way with clarity, community, and courage.
Oh, and the room they booked me was overlooking SeaWorld, so I got to see fireworks out my window (once I realized that’s what the noise was 😅).
Shortly after, I was in Las Vegas for Wedding MBA, the biggest event in the nearly $1 trillion worldwide wedding industry, where over 6,000 professionals gathered. I was honored to take the stage a couple of times.
My general session focused on embracing wedding industry businesses like the adventure they are, highlighting the importance of having the courage to do the “unright” thing to find personal and professional breakthrough. I also led a session for officiants, which included sharing insights into storytelling and then facilitating a conversation among some true experts in the field. It was wonderful to meet and catch up with so many amazing people, and it was also so fun to have a group of people excited that I was an officiant on Love is Blind.
Connecting with the Community
In November, we had Eric Termuende join our Ambitious Speaker Collective community to share his journey and invest in our members. If you are a speaker, event planner, or bureau, I highly recommend following him!
Eric is a great guy, a fabulous speaker, and an incredible expert in providing a blueprint for building teams for the uncertain future. The hour flew by and left us all longing for more—which is exactly the kind of valuable, in-depth content and connection the ASC is all about.
To follow more of my speaking journey, let’s connect on social media! Follow me on LinkedIn or YouTube, or join the conversation on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. I recently launched two new Facebook pages: one for my speaking adventures and one for my officiant business, Awesome Officiant.
As we head into the holiday season, remember to approach your life and work The Safari Way. Focus on Clarity, Community, and Courage, be willing to take the “unright” road to find your breakthrough and joy.
I hope you have a wonderful, restful, and courageous holiday season!
Until next year 😁
Maisha ni safari
(Swahili… Life is a Safari)
Sincerely,
Steve Fredlund
The Courage Advantage™ | Speaker | Author | Humanitarian | Recovering Actuary
651.587.5435 | SteveFredlund.com | LinkedIn | Promo Video | Scheduling Link
About The Author
Steve Fredlund is an award-winning keynote speaker, two-time TEDx presenter, and bestselling author of Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser. After decades as an actuary, executive, entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder—including leading humanitarian efforts in East Africa—Steve discovered that doing everything “right” doesn’t always lead to fulfillment or impact.
Drawing from that journey, he developed The Courage Advantage™ philosophy—centered on the everyday courage to move beyond expectation, lead with authenticity, and live in alignment with what truly matters. Through his engaging stories, humor, and practical insights, Steve inspires audiences to find greater clarity, connection, and fulfillment in both life and leadership.