It’s no revelation that engaged employees are preferable to disengaged workers, but before you embark on a quest to bolster engagement at your organization, there are a few hard truths to confront. First, if you’re an average company, two-thirds of your employees are likely to be disengaged. But before you start shelling out cash to correct this problem, realize that most money spent on engagement initiatives is wasted. Sustained improvement in employee engagement comes from providing people with opportunities for growth, developing their skills, and providing feedback and recognition. Most organizations’ engagement programs neglect these critical components. Finally, realize that it’s not the employees’ fault that they are disengaged. Managers have the most significant effect on the engagement of their teams, and most of the time, they’re less engaged than their employees are. If they don’t care, why should their teams? Managers need to be empowered to effect lasting change in this regard.