Sometimes, your least engaged people are your most committed people. It sounds antithetical, but it is true.
Most times, disengaged people just want to be listened to, not necessarily agreed with, but truly listened to.
This is why rather frequently, a change in leadership seems to bring out the best in otherwise disengaged people. Part of that change, if the new leader has any sense, is to give a listening ear to everyone, without any filter or bias. When the disengaged person feels like he has been listened to, he gets engaged and there is nothing more beautiful in execution than an engaged and committed person.
You really do not need to be new to a team to create spaces of listening. I have no prescriptions for how you can improve your listening skills, but when someone feels heard in an engagement, you will know. There will be a sigh of relief, like a load has been lifted off their shoulders.
If someone could get past the gates, through the door, climb the steps and is now at the table where you sit at the head, the person cannot be a total fool. He or she might just be the stretch you need to deliver an extraordinary performance. Engage the disengaged.
– Osasu Oviawe