Employee engagement in Christian-led organizations has reached its highest level in 15 years—yet nearly 4 in 10 employees still cannot bring their best to work every day. In this episode, Dr. Doug Waldo, Research Director & Senior Consultant at Best Christian Workplaces, unpacks what the 2026 State of the Christian Workplace Report reveals about trust, voice, and the leadership decisions shaping engagement right now.
Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.
The latest State of the Christian Workplace Report shows encouraging momentum: 61% of employees are engaged—the highest level recorded in 15 years. But the data also highlights persistent barriers, especially around trust in leadership and employees’ desire to be heard in decisions that affect their work. Dr. Doug Waldo explains what these findings mean for leaders across Christian-led organizations and how addressing these obstacles strengthens mission capacity and organizational health. This conversation offers a research-grounded roadmap for moving the remaining 39% toward fuller engagement.
02:55 — What employee engagement actually measures—and why it multiplies mission impact
14:29 — Why 39% disengagement still creates a major organizational drag
19:11 — The three trust barriers leaders must address right now: voice, involvement, and confidence in leadership direction
Dr. Doug Waldo serves as Research Director and Senior Consultant with Best Christian Workplaces. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in strategic leadership, organizational economics, and workplace research, he helps churches, schools, nonprofits, and Christian-led organizations interpret engagement data and apply it to culture strategy. Doug plays a key role in developing the annual State of the Christian Workplace Report and equipping leaders to strengthen trust, alignment, and mission effectiveness through measurable insight.
• 2026 State of the Christian Workplace Report
A full, word-for-word transcript of this episode is available here.
Review the findings from the 2026 State of the Christian Workplace Report and consider what they reveal about trust and communication inside your organization. Reflect with your leadership team on whether employees feel heard and involved in decisions that affect them.
If this episode challenged or encouraged you, share it with a fellow leader who cares deeply about building a healthy, Christ-centered culture.
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