Why Engagement Is the Barometer of Successful Strategy

If you want to know whether your strategy is working, don’t look at the plan — look at the people. Engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the clearest signpost that your strategy is alive, understood, and gaining traction.

Challenge:

Leaders know that strategies succeed or fail not on paper, but in practice. Engagement is the true test — because it shows whether people feel connected, aligned, and motivated. Without it, even the sharpest plan risks falling flat.

Jennifer Dulski, author of Purposeful and CEO of Rising Team, believes that leaders aren’t just managers — they’re movement starters. And the best movements begin with a clear and compelling vision. It’s a vision that helps people see not just where they’re going, but why it matters. That sense of purpose transforms employees into passionate contributors, and companies into communities.

Solution:

At Scriberia, we help leaders visualise their strategies — not just to explain them, but to inspire belief in them. Because when people see where they’re headed, and see themselves in the story, they’re far more likely to get on board. Our work is grounded in the same idea that fuels Dulski’s thinking: people rally behind clarity, meaning, and a shared sense of purpose.

Engagement as alignment

Engagement is the truest test of whether a strategy is working — not because it reflects enthusiasm, but because it reflects alignment. Engaged people feel connected: to their work, their colleagues, and their organisation’s values. They understand the bigger picture and feel proud to be part of it. That’s not just about doing a job — it’s about belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

“Movements thrive on community and shared values.”

Jennifer Dulski, Purposeful

Activating culture through visuals

In organisations, shared values translate into the lived experience of company culture. But it’s not enough to write values on a wall or website. They have to be activated — celebrated, recognised, and woven into everyday decisions. This is where Scriberia’s visual tools play a powerful role: turning abstract ideas like “belonging” or “collaboration” into a shared visual language that makes values real and relatable.

The 80/20 trust model

Dulski offers a simple framework for building trust and autonomy: the 80/20 model. It encourages leaders to empower employees to make around 80% of day-to-day decisions without sign-off. Only the remaining 20% — usually big, high-stakes calls — need management approval. It’s a way to clear the fog, speed things up, and show people that they are trusted. And trust, in turn, deepens engagement.

In a world of shifting workplace expectations, this matters more than ever. Post-pandemic, people are searching for meaning, flexibility, and a sense of being valued. Dulski’s insights — and Scriberia’s practice — point in the same direction: if you want your strategy to succeed, you have to bring people with you. Not just by telling them where you’re going, but by showing them why it matters — and where they fit in.

Because when people are truly engaged, they don’t just execute the strategy. They belong to it. They believe in it. And they build it with you.

Do you want to inspire belief in your strategy? Let us help you bring it to life visually. Book a meeting today.