The Great Rethink 2025: Reimagining How We Work, Lead, and Thrive
/I’m sharing this updated reflection because things are not getting better—things haven't improved as we'd hoped.
When I first wrote about the workplace crisis in June 2024, I hoped we'd see improvement. Instead, every trend I identified has accelerated.
We are long past the point of hoping things “return to normal.” We've been waiting for things to "return to normal." But what if normal was the problem all along?
What we're seeing now in organizations—the burnout, disengagement, cognitive overload, and women leaving—is not just a moment. It's a turning point.
If you’ve been feeling like your teams are stretched too thin, your leaders are exhausted, or your culture is quietly unraveling, you’re not alone. And you’re not imagining it.
The exhaustion you're seeing in your teams, the quiet exodus of talented women, the generational friction that feels impossible to bridge—this isn't just about workload or policies. This is about people trying to thrive in systems that weren't designed for how humans actually work best.
The Truth About Why Engagement is Dying
Today's workforce isn't just stressed—they're starved for meaning. We've created environments where people show up as fragments of themselves, leaving their authentic selves at the door. When work becomes disconnected from purpose and is purely transactional, engagement slowly dies.
The data reflects what we already know - people are desperate for meaning, connection, and the freedom to bring their whole selves to work. The recent Gallup State of the Global Workplace report confirms that low engagement is costing the global economy a staggering $8.9 trillion USD, and at least 50% of the U.S. workforce exhibits signs of quiet quitting, doing only the minimum required for their jobs.
Why Women Are Walking Away (And It's Not What You Think)
Recent studies confirm what I observe in my coaching practice: women aren't leaving due to a lack of ambition—they're leaving because they refuse to continue sacrificing their authentic selves for advancement. LeanIn reports that women leaders are leaving companies at an unprecedented rate, citing a lack of promotion opportunities and a desire for work-life balance. Women leaders are twice as likely to switch jobs for reasons such as flexibility and better work-life balance.
Losing talent isn't sustainable, and it can't be the solution.
Generational Friction in the Workplace
We continue to see generational challenges from Gen Z to Boomers escalate. A recent SHRM report confirms that over 60% of managers say generational conflict is actively hurting performance and cohesion.
Return-to-Office Mandates May Be Backfiring
People aren't just choosing where to work—they're choosing how to live. They're pursuing alignment between their professional and personal priorities.
A 2024 WFH Research study found that 41% of workers would consider looking for a new job if required to adhere to a 5-day return-to-office policy.
53% of remote workers say they'd seek other jobs if forced to return full-time. (WTW, 2024)
The GAO's 2025 report affirms that remote work, when well-executed, increases productivity, engagement, and retention.
The Hidden Crisis: Cognitive Overload and Wellbeing Decline
Technology interruptions and information overload cost the US economy $1 trillion per year, while context switching consumes 2.1 hours of the average employee's day. Meanwhile, 1/3 of people globally say their lives are out of balance. This isn't just about work anymore; it's about human sustainability.
The Great Rethink™
We don't need more band-aid solutions. We need a redesign.
The Great Rethink™ is a strategic, high-impact leadership and culture transformation experience that helps organizations:
Reignite engagement
Equip managers to lead in today's climate
Create psychological safety and belonging
Build resilience across teams
Instead of trying to fix a broken system with old thinking, join the leaders brave enough to ask: What if work could be a place where people don't just survive, but truly thrive?
The question isn't if change is coming. It's whether you'll lead it or be swept along by it.
The time for waiting for "normal" to return is over. We need to create cultures that recognize people as whole humans, driven by purpose, seeking connection, and deserving of sustainable success.
It starts at every level.
For Individuals:
Set and communicate clear boundaries
Prioritize your wellbeing as non-negotiable
Lead authentically by honoring results and relationships
Advocate for what's not working and say "no" to burnout culture
Build meaningful connections and seek support
For Teams:
Co-create goals that include wellbeing metrics
Hold regular check-ins that prioritize sustainability
Reduce context switching and protect focused work time
Celebrate real contributions, not just output
Build psychological safety through empathy and trust
For Organizations:
Invest in wellbeing at the root, not just perks
Develop leaders through coaching and human-centered training
Create open, honest communication channels
Offer flexibility that supports different seasons of life
Streamline systems to reduce cognitive overload
Redesign recognition to value whole-person contributions
When we commit to change at every level, we create cultures where both people and performance don't just survive—they thrive.
This is exactly what the R.E.T.H.I.N.K. Framework™ helps organizations accomplish systematically.
Ready to Explore What's Possible for Your Organization?
My R.E.T.H.I.N.K. Framework™ partners with organizations to create sustainable success where both people and performance thrive. Utilizing strategic leadership development, neuroscience-backed practices, and embodied wellness approaches, I guide teams toward healthier, more high-performing cultures.
Curious about how this could work for your team? I offer complimentary strategy calls to explore what transformation might look like for your organization.
📧 aneta@akuzmagroup.com
📅 Schedule your transformation call
#Leadership #PurposeDrivenWork #AuthenticLeadership #WorkplaceTransformation #TheGreatRethink
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