Summary: This article addresses how to increase your organisation’s engagement, and fix high employee turnover and low eNPS in Amsterdam-based organizations. Referring to Gallup’s global workplace engagement survey, identifies poor management as the primary cause of low decreasing engagement. The text advocates for management training, including teaching managers how to coach, to improve retention and ROI.
Low Engagement Keeps HR and L&D Professionals Awake at Night
The latest quarterly HR audit figures are in, and the signals are concerning. Employee engagement is declining, the eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score) has stagnated, and turnover among high potentials in the Amsterdam region is increasing. As an HR Director or L&D Manager, you understand that strategic plans are only as effective as the managers responsible for executing them.
The realization is clear: there is a problem. However, you are not alone. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 report shows a worldwide decline in engagement, primarily driven by an even sharper decrease in engagement among managers. A manager’s level of engagement has a direct and significant impact on the engagement of their team.
The Solution to Low Engagement: Management Training
According to Gallup, approximately $9.6 trillion in productivity can be unlocked globally if managers are fully engaged. To achieve this, Gallup advises that the most effective action companies can take is to train their managers. Furthermore, they recommend teaching managers how to coach.
As technical skills become less permanent, coaching abilities become increasingly essential. In my management training programs, I teach new managers how to coach their teams effectively. This leads to higher engagement, more motivated employees, and fewer issues for HR to resolve.
The Cost of the ‘Accidental Manager’
Many managers in the Amsterdam business market have transitioned into their roles based on subject matter expertise rather than leadership skills. Without targeted leadership development, they inadvertently become the source of the challenges HR faces daily:
- Rising Absenteeism: Often the result of a management style that fails to recognize early signs of stress.
- Low Retention: In a competitive market like Amsterdam, talent leaves for competitors as soon as the relationship with their direct supervisor deteriorates.
- Declining Employee Engagement: Without proper guidance, employees lose their connection to the company’s mission.
Approximately half of all managers have never received formal management training. This lack of guidance is the root cause of many management issues. These are not individuals with bad intentions; they are professionals who are navigating their roles without a clear framework. Conducting difficult conversations, facilitating effective meetings, managing underperformance, and motivating staff are all skills that can be learned, yet they often fail in practice due to a lack of proper support.
Management Training That Supports HR KPIs
By investing in professional leadership coaching, we address the core of the issue. We train managers to move beyond just monitoring output and instead create an environment where psychological safety and performance coexist. This is the only sustainable way to structurally improve the eNPS.
Investing in Leadership in the Amsterdam Region
Whether your organization is located at the Zuidas or is a growing company in Amsterdam-Noord, the war for talent is won through the quality of your management. You require a partner who understands that training is only successful when burnout rates decrease and internal mobility increases.
My programs are designed to provide managers with the tools to:
- Create Clarity: Managers learn exactly what is expected of them—and what is not—enabling them to lead with focus.
- Increase Engagement: They learn how to keep employees genuinely involved and motivated, which is directly reflected in the eNPS.
- Build High-Performing Teams: Facilitate the transition from a group of individuals to a cohesive team that delivers top performance.
Conclusion
Is it time to elevate the leadership development within your organization? You can read more here about how my customized management training in Amsterdam can support your HR objectives. Alternatively, you may schedule a complimentary introductory meeting via www.davidbuirs.com/contact.