Elizabeth Eldridge

Have you ever worked in an environment where people did their jobs but nobody seemed invested? They showed up, completed their tasks, attended meetings and answered emails, but rarely volunteered ideas or took initiative. Problems were met with a shrug and “Not my problem.” People watched the clock, and if you asked how work was going, you heard, “It’s a paycheque.” Now picture a workplace where people genuinely care. They share ideas, notice and solve problems, celebrate wins and...

There’s a particular kind of workplace problem that can be surprisingly difficult to spot. Everyone is getting the work done. Deadlines are being met, customers are being served, projects are moving forward and the team is delivering what it needs to deliver. The problem is what it’s taking to make that happen. People are starting early and staying late. Lunch is eaten at desks, if it’s eaten at all. Vacation gets postponed because there’s never a good time to take it. The same dependable...

Imagine showing up to work knowing your ideas don’t matter. Decisions affecting your job are made behind closed doors, policies appear without explanation and feedback requests feel like a formality. Eventually, you stop offering ideas, raising concerns and pointing out problems. You keep your head down and do what you’re told. Now imagine the opposite: you’re asked for input before changes are made, your expertise is valued and you have reasonable autonomy in how you do your work. Even...