The Requirements of a Leader Who Leads Through Respect, Not Fear

A respected leader is not someone who achieves goals through team members, but someone who helps team members grow on their own. The Crisis of Leadership and the Meaning of Respect The success or failure of an organization depends on people, not strategy. This is especially true when that person is a leader. Then, what percentage of workers around the world today would say they truly respect their leader? According to the State of the Global Workplace: 2026 Report published by Gallup in April 2026, global employee engagement fell to 20% as of 2025. It declined for three consecutive years from a peak of 23% in 2022, reaching its lowest level since 2020. This marks the first time in Gallup's history that engagement has dropped for two consecutive years. The economic cost amounts to $10 trillion annually in lost productivity, equivalent to approximately 9% of global GDP. There is another fa…