The $550 Billion Problem You Can’t Afford to Ignore

There’s a $450–550 billion problem sitting in your conference room right now. It’s not your systems. It’s not your strategy. It’s not even your bottom line—yet. It’s your people feeling invisible.

Every day, talented team members show up, do their work, and go home feeling unseen, unheard, and undervalued. They’re disengaged not because they don’t care—but because they don’t feel like you care.

And the cost?

It’s staggering!

But the l loss isn’t measured in dollars.

It’s when:

-The engineer stops sharing ideas because no one listens.

-The manager burns out because their communication style clashes with yours.

-The high performer quietly starts job-hunting because purpose has left the building.

-The team stops collaborating—not from a lack of skill, but a lack of understanding.

Here’s a leadership truth worth remembering:

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — John Maxwell

The Engagement Gap

Research shows 74% of employees are more engaged when they feel heard.
And 92% of highly engaged workers say they feel listened to at work.

That gap between 74% and 92%?
That’s where your culture, your retention, and your profitability either thrive—or die.

Understanding Before Leading

Most leaders think their team needs another motivational speech or a new system.
But what your people really need is understanding—to be seen, valued, and led according to how they’re wired.

When you understand these differences, everything changes. Communication improves. Collaboration flows. And your people feel genuinely valued—not just for what they do, but for who they are.

“The strongest teams aren’t built by working harder. They’re built by understanding better.”

That’s where Maxwell DISC comes in.

Every person on your team sees the world differently:

D (Dominance):

Driven by results. They want to win and move fast.

I (Influence):

Energized by people. They thrive on encouragement and recognition.

S (Steadiness):

Loyal and patient. They crave security and consistency.

C (Conscientiousness):

Precise and careful. They value excellence and accuracy.

Turning Disengagement Into Connection

Imagine a team where:

Conversations connect instead of collide

Every meeting ends with clarity, not confusion

Each person contributes from their strengths, not their stress

That’s what happens when you lead with insight instead of assumption

The Maxwell DISC framework doesn’t just teach communication—it transforms culture. It gives you a practical, proven way to:

Decode personalities so you can communicate effectively.

Defuse conflict before it damages trust.

Develop leaders by helping them understand themselves and others.

Drive performance through connection, not control.

Small business owners often ask, “Where do I start?”

Start here: with yourself.

Because every leadership breakthrough begins with self-awareness.
You can’t lead others well until you learn to lead yourself well.

The Leader’s Challenge

As a small business owner, you wear every hat—vision-caster, problem-solver, mentor, and firefighter. You don’t have time to guess what motivates your people.

But here’s the good news: You don’t have to.

Maxwell DISC gives you a roadmap to understanding people quickly and leading them effectively.
It’s not theory—it’s practical, relational leadership that drives results.

“Leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less.”

And influence grows when people feel understood.

What If the Breakthrough Isn’t a New System—But a New Understanding?

What if the breakthrough your team needs isn’t another training, another process, or another motivational talk… but a shift in how you see and lead your people?

What if you could turn disengagement into connection, confusion into clarity, and tension into trust?

You can—when you understand how each person on your team is uniquely designed to contribute.

That’s what Maxwell DISC helps you do.

Ready to lead with understanding?
Let’s start the conversation.

👉 Schedule a Discovery Call

What would change in your business if every person on your team felt seen, heard, and valued every day?

John & Wendy Deering are independent certified members and are not employees of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. We are not in partnership with John Maxwell or the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. We are members (coach, speaker, trainer, or facilitator), not an employee (e.g., “works at” = employee = not an approved affiliation).