Findings disrupt traditional thinking of how leader to employee relationships impact engagement, retention, and profitability, as measured by new and innovative Net Connected Score™
A 2024 research study commissioned by Quantum Connections™ has uncovered a powerful but often overlooked driver of business success: employee connection.
The study, conducted by global behavioral research leader, Sentient Decision Science, surveyed more than 12,000 employees across 49 industries and found that when employees feel seen and heard in their workplace—as measured by Quantum Connections’ patent-pending Net Connected Score (NCS)—both human and business outcomes improve dramatically.
At its core, NCS is calculated by using a simple yet powerful question: “On a scale of 1-10, how seen and heard do you feel by your direct supervisor?” This one question captures the primary motivator of behaviors that drive high-performing teams—the fundamental need for human connection. The importance of measuring employees’ feelings of connection (being seen and heard) becomes evident when we consider that, according to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence Survey, seven in ten U.S. workers say they would leave a job if they had a bad manager.
“Our work has proven that the relationship between employees and their direct supervisors represents the crucial intersection where organizational success meets human need,” said Dennis S. Holland, CEO of Quantum Connections. “The degree to which employees feel seen and heard by their immediate supervisor is directly correlated to the key performance indicators of employee engagement, retention, and profitability,” added Holland.
Key Research Findings
The proprietary research reveals that a connected workforce has lower attrition rates, leading to years of additional employee tenure. Business performance follows, with increased profits. It turns out that the drivers of increased employee retention and company profitability are rooted in deeper employee engagement. Work environments where employees feel connected foster a workforce that actively contributes to company success.
When employees’ feelings of being seen and heard increase, businesses see the following impact:
- Increased Engagement: Employees are at least 55% more likely to contribute ideas, 44% more likely to admit mistakes without fear, and 39% more likely to take calculated risks—all behaviors that drive innovation and team cohesion.
- Increased Retention: Employees are at least 31% less likely to think about leaving their employer once a week and are likely to stay with the employer an additional 9.5 months, at a minimum—reducing the need for costly rehiring and retraining.
- Increased Profitability: Fully connected workforces experience 38.7% greater profitability than fully disconnected workforces—fueling sustained business growth and stability.
“The research shows that real change comes from transforming the fundamental way people are managed and connected at work,” said Aaron Reid, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Sentient Decision Science. “Furthermore, this groundbreaking study demonstrates that the human connection component of NCS makes it superior in predicting business outcomes than existing employee satisfaction and engagement measures in use today—making it a game-changing metric for business leaders,” added Reid.
The NCS findings arrive at a critical moment when businesses are struggling with high employee turnover and disengagement in the face of unprecedented challenges from managing global teams, balancing hybrid work models, and blending five generations of workers, among many other factors.
“This study represents more than the validation of a new measurement tool; it offers a practical roadmap for organizations seeking to build more connected and productive workplaces in today’s complex business environment,” concluded Holland. “Our research definitively shows that when we invest in fundamental human connection—particularly between supervisors and their teams—we're not just addressing the global crisis of workplace detachment, we're unlocking the full potential of our people and our organizations.”
To learn more about the Net Connected Score research and findings, visit www.quantumconnections.com/ncs.
About Quantum Connections
Quantum Connections Training LLC (dba Quantum Connections) is an employee connection and performance platform for HR and business leaders seeking to measurably improve employee engagement, retention, and profitability. Founded by renowned relationship experts and best-selling authors, Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., and Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D., Quantum Connections is grounded in the neuro and quantum social sciences and equips leaders and employees with the dialogue skills needed to foster collaboration, creativity, and connection that leads to lasting behavioral transformation and measurable business performance improvement.
About Sentient Decision Science
Sentient Decision Science is a behavioral science-based research firm founded in 2007. Sentient is a global award-winning expert in consumer psychology and the emotional drivers of human behavior. Sentient technology has been translated into 40+ languages and has measured human cognitive and emotional response in over 145 countries globally.
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The degree to which employees feel seen and heard by their immediate supervisor is directly correlated to the key performance indicators of employee engagement, retention, and profitability.
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