Engaging employees through whole leadership

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain the “whole leadership” approach to engaging the heads, hearts and guts of employees.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on research and case study material to demonstrate the importance of engaging employees to achieve organizational goals.Practical implications – The paper provides useful guidelines for a whole leadership approach and suggestions for how HR professionals can implement learning opportunities to introduce whole leadership skills and behaviors in their organizations.Originality/value – The paper demonstrates the value of a whole leadership approach in engaging, motivating and inspiring employees, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty, increasing globalization and complexity in organizational life.