Empower your managers to get the best (not just the most) out of the people they manage
“Since starting the [Connected Manager} program, our percentage of engaged employees has increased from 29% in 2015 to 81% in 2023, per our Gallup Survey results. 0% of employees are considered ‘actively disengaged’. Staff turnover has decreased from 28% in 2021 to just 9% over the last 18 months.” - Jim, COO
The Connected Manager Program teaches your managers how to manage people – not just paper – and is built on the following foundations of connection:
The Connected Manager Program results in an engaged workforce by focusing on building and sustaining highly effective leaders that care about and connect meaningfully to the people they manage. Based on the evidence that connection cures disengagement and focused on The 6 Foundational Elements of Connection that allow managers to get the best out of their humans, (not just the most). 
"When I work with my direct reports, I put an extremely high value on connection – going beyond only what’s happening in their work day. My goal is to bring out the best in others. For me, this class was hands down one of the most transformative programs I've ever been a part of and the teachings are things that I look over often." Seth, Senior Director

Core PrincipleS

  • Disengagement (a.k.a job misery) comes from 3 areas – 1) feeling unknown (anonymity), 2) not knowing how your job makes a difference in the company (irrelevance), or 3) not being able to measure progress/accomplishments (immeasurement)*
  • Connection is the key to engagement – connection to people, connection to career path and connection to the company
  • Managers are the key to connection 
  • Employees who are connected to the goals, mission and initiative of the company are typically led by great managers
  • Connection is not just about what a manager does (great work), it also encompasses core character qualities (great humans)

The Program Details 

  • STEP ONE: ROUSING KICK OFF – In-person session to engage managers with the process. We will cover the need for connection, the symptoms of disconnection, how connection will make their job easier and ultimately motivate and inspire managers to want to be the kind of managers who get the best out of the people they manage.
  • STEP TWO: IMMERSION – Multiple sessions (virtual or in-person) given within a short time period. Each of these meetings will have a separate focus and will culminate with managers creating a plan of connection for each person they manage.
    • Session 1 – Connection Foundation: In this interactive session, managers explore the foundations of connection, why connection is vital to engagement, and begin to self-assess their own strengths and weaknesses in their management skills.
    • Session 2 – Roadblocks to Connection: During this session we will explore individual, structural and organizational challenges of having connected relationships with the people you manage. We will explore methods to “unstick” stuck relationships and have the necessary conversations we tend to avoid. This session will use facilitated discussion, small group breakouts, and individual work to keep it practical, realistic and powerfully effective.
    • Session 3 – Building Connection Plans: This workshop will allow managers to use the skills they’ve learned and the insight they’ve gained in previous sessions to build individual connection plans for each person they manage. These plans will allow managers to immediately put into action the learnings of the 3 sessions.
  • STEP THREE: ACCOUNTABILITY – Quarterly follow ups (in person or virtual) with your managers to ensure application of the program. These sessions will re-engage managers in the skills of connection while also providing accountability and real-life application. Each session will allow managers to examine the connection plans they created and modify as needed.

time and timing

This is a year-long program designed to renew annually. Immersion sessions can begin immediately (calendar dependent). 

investment

Your commitment to this program includes a one-time fee of $63,200 for up to 30 participants. 

The Stats and Facts


  • Gallup measures the impact of employee engagement as 21% greater profitability, 41% reduction in absenteeism, and 59% less turnover.  
  • Gallup has discovered that a staggering 70% of the variation between great workplace engagement and lousy workplace engagement can be explained just by the ​quality of the manager or team leader.
  • Employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.
  • The Connected Manager program is designed to build and sustain employee engagement and develop your leaders using proven methods to improve managers’ ability to connect with their humans.
  • TCM is informed by 20+ years working with hundreds of leaders using dozens of proven methods. The result is the most practical and effective program of changed behavior, increased connection and development of the leaders of your company.