Ending the Engagement Crisis: How Intentional Leadership Builds Thriving Teams | El Lages

There is an engagement crisis in our workplaces currently!  Elizabeth “El” Lages, Chief People and Culture Officer at Flexera, shares how strong values, intentional leadership, and accountability fuel high engagement across global teams. Join us as we hear how her approach blends communication, transparency, and people-first practices to keep culture aligned and performance strong even through acquisitions and change. We learn how regular one-on-ones, clear expectations, and open feedback loops empower employees to contribute meaningfully and speak up. El gives us practical insight into building trust, supporting leaders at all levels, and creating real ownership across the organization. We’re reminded that culture doesn’t live in a handbook, it shows up in every conversation, decision, and recognition. When leaders model values and engage their teams consistently, people feel seen, heard, and motivated to show up with purpose.    Highlights  1. Leadership Starts with Listening - Frequent check-ins and open conversations help leaders stay grounded in what their teams really need.  2. Clarity Is the Cornerstone of Accountability - When expectations are clear and consistent, people feel supported—not micromanaged.  3. Culture Lives in Daily Habits - Core values show up in actions, not posters. Recognition and transparency reinforce them.  4. Feedback Builds Trust - Employees want feedback—positive and constructive—because it drives growth and connection.  5. Support Leaders to Show Up Well - Ongoing development and real-time coaching help managers lead with clarity and confidence.  Resources Mentioned  The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment)  How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?   You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.  In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.  https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/     About the Guest:   El Lages is the Chief People and Culture Officer at Flexera. Flexera is a global company that helps organizations gain the visibility and insight they need to optimize spend, minimize risk, achieve sustainability goals, and make data-driven decisions to propel their business forward. El has been with the company since 2004, focusing on building high-performing teams and enabling a culture rooted in candor, accountability, and celebrating success. She leads with a people-first mindset and a #keepscorephilosophy - driving engagement, developing leaders, and aligning performance with purpose.   She can be reached at:  elages@flexera.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethlages/     About the Host:   Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.  As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of...