--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It appears that the epidemic of active…" description: "\"“It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we see in workplaces every day could be a curable disease…if we can help the people around us dev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png" --- # It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we… ![“It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we see in workplaces every day could be a curable disease…if we can help the people around us develop their strengths.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png) > ““It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we see in workplaces every day could be a curable disease…if we can help the people around us develop their strengths.”” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Workplace disengagement is curable by developing others' strengths. **In simple terms:** Help others grow to fix workplace disengagement. Key Takeaway Focus on strengths development. Themes leadership employee engagement strengths development Mood encouraging optimistic Type practical motivational When to use this quote - HR practices - coaching - organizational health Key Concepts Positive psychology team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify teammates' strengths? - What strengths can you nurture today? A Different Perspective Changing strengths takes time and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disengagement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disengagement/) ## Related quotes > [“Across the board, having the opportunity to develop our strengths is more important to our success than our role, our title, or even our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/across-the-board-having-the-opportunity-to-develop-our-strengths-is/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Its impossible to develop your strengths unless you know whatthey are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/its-impossible-to-develop-your-strengths-unless-you-know-whatthey-are/) Senoraroy > [Women who have had more opportunity to develop their own strengths and talents, or who are quite satisfied and content in a traditional role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-hawke/women-who-have-had-more-opportunity-to-develop-their-own-strengths/) [Hazel Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-hawke/) > [Your weaknesses will never develop, while your strengths will develop infinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-weaknesses-will-never-develop-while-your-strengths-will-develop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, life is about continuously being hungry. It's meaning is not simply to just exist or to survive, but to move ahead, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-me-life-is-about-continuously-being-hungry-it-s-meaning-is-not/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Life more often teaches us how to perfect our weaknesses than how to develop our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anmol-andore/life-more-often-teaches-us-how-to-perfect-our-weaknesses-than-how-to/) [Anmol Andore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anmol-andore/) > [I want to help children develop strengths that allow them to feel they don't have to push things away mentally... If we 'cotton-ball' kids,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/i-want-to-help-children-develop-strengths-that-allow-them-to-feel/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [I want to use my time here at Arsenal to develop my strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-want-to-use-my-time-here-at-arsenal-to-develop-my-strengths/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. Don't give up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/strength-does-not-come-from-winning-your-struggles-develop-your-2/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/strength-does-not-come-from-winning-your-struggles-develop-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Disengagement is the issue underlying the majority of problems I see in families, schools, communities, and organizations and it takes many forms, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/disengagement-is-the-issue-underlying-the-majority-of-problems-i-see/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [It is not difficult to conceive, however, that for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives. For without entering into refined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-not-difficult-to-conceive-however-that-for-many-reasons-a-man/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Without ongoing training in tailoring instruction to individual learners (and support in doing so), “fault” for underperformance or disengagement from learning is frequently shifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-olson/without-ongoing-training-in-tailoring-instruction-to-individual/) Kirsten Olson > [“What if we saw differences in cultures, in moral choices, and in belief as reasons to engage people instead of excuses to disengage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/what-if-we-saw-differences-in-cultures-in-moral-choices-and-in-belief/) [Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/) > [“Employee Engagement “Employee Engagement” has become a very hot topic in recent years. The escalating statistics for disengagement are alarming. In 2015, the Gallup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/employee-engagement-employee-engagement-has-become-a-very-hot-topic/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) [Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More Disengagement quotes > [“Employee Engagement “Employee Engagement” has become a very hot topic in recent years. The escalating statistics for disengagement are alarming. In 2015, the Gallup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/employee-engagement-employee-engagement-has-become-a-very-hot-topic/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“What if we saw differences in cultures, in moral choices, and in belief as reasons to engage people instead of excuses to disengage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/what-if-we-saw-differences-in-cultures-in-moral-choices-and-in-belief/) [Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/) > [“Without ongoing training in tailoring instruction to individual learners (and support in doing so), “fault” for underperformance or disengagement from learning is frequently shifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-olson/without-ongoing-training-in-tailoring-instruction-to-individual/) Kirsten Olson > [It is not difficult to conceive, however, that for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives. For without entering into refined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-not-difficult-to-conceive-however-that-for-many-reasons-a-man/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Disengagement is the issue underlying the majority of problems I see in families, schools, communities, and organizations and it takes many forms, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/disengagement-is-the-issue-underlying-the-majority-of-problems-i-see/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Often children who survive extremely adverse childhoods have learned a particular survival strategy. I call it ‘strategic detachment.’ This is not the withdrawal from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/often-children-who-survive-extremely-adverse-childhoods-have-learned/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Not all Modern Orthodox Jews, at the present juncture, identify with what the Israeli government does. In Israel many religious Zionists strongly oppose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lamm/not-all-modern-orthodox-jews-at-the-present-juncture-identify-with/) [Norman Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lamm/) > [“There is a difference between giving-up and strategic disengagement. Know the difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/there-is-a-difference-between-giving-up-and-strategic-disengagement/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“He underlines the distinction between mental nonengagement and the absence of mental engagement. The first is understood as the fundamental noninvolvement in dualistic appearances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/he-underlines-the-distinction-between-mental-nonengagement-and-the/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [Learning to pause is the first step in the practice of Radical Acceptance. A pause is a suspension of activity, a time of temporary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/learning-to-pause-is-the-first-step-in-the-practice-of-radical/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [What is the Obama Doctrine? It seems to be one of disengagement, to try to ignore the hot, religious, dry, poor countries from Algeria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/what-is-the-obama-doctrine-it-seems-to-be-one-of-disengagement-to-try/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Disengagement is a response to certain demographic realities, .. Within a few years, due to the higher Arab birth rate, Jews will become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/disengagement-is-a-response-to-certain-demographic-realities-within-a/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [I think social and moral disengagement is repugnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-think-social-and-moral-disengagement-is-repugnant/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Moral justification is a powerful disengagement mechanism. Destructive conduct is made personally and socially acceptable by portraying it in the service of moral ends.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/moral-justification-is-a-powerful-disengagement-mechanism-destructive/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [After the death of the sadistic dictator Gen. Sanni Abacha in 1998, Nigeria underwent a one-year transitional military administration headed by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/after-the-death-of-the-sadistic-dictator-gen-sanni-abacha-in-1998/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) [Browse all 33 Disengagement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disengagement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we see in workplaces every day could be a curable disease…if we can help the people around us develop their strengths.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-disengagement-we-see-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disengagement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-disengagement-we-see-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tom-rath-3501_disengagement_it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-d_3049521.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we see in workplaces every day could be a curable…” — Tom Rath", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It appears that the epidemic of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-disengagement-we-see-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/it-appears-that-the-epidemic-of-active-disengagement-we-see-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```