Why Your Customers Feel Like Zombies
Engagement is at a record low here’s how that affects how people buy.
Picture this:
You are delivering your pitch, walking through features and specs. The person on the other end is nodding… but their eyes are glazed over. No spark. No pushback. It’s like talking to someone who’s half-awake.
That’s not just a bad meeting it’s a symptom of a bigger problem.
According to Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report, only 21% of employees globally are engaged at work. And that disengagement does not just stay inside company walls it directly affects how people listen, how they respond, and how they buy.
Let’s break down what that means for your sales strategy.
If you know someone who might be talking to disengaged customers share this post with them to help them out.
Low Engagement = Low Attention
Most customers you are reaching out to are mentally elsewhere. They are juggling too much, burned out, or disillusioned at work. Even if they show up to the call, their attention might not. Here’s the catch:
”If you lead with technical specs or feature dumps, you’ll lose them even faster.”
Your message needs to do more than inform it has to resonate.
Ask yourself:
Does your pitch start with their pain or your product?
Is your outreach more about empathy or persuasion?
Gallup found that only 21% of employees are engaged worldwide. That leaves nearly 80% of your potential customers tuned out before you even say hello. Start with the problem at hand, get the customer onboard with that problem and you will keep their engagement.
Emotion is the New Differentiator
In a disengaged world, performance is not enough. People are craving meaning. They want to feel heard, respected, and relieved not just sold to. Anyone can get an AI or a call center to read a script. But truly great customer advocates will reach out and engage the customer to understand their challenges.
This is your opportunity. Instead of just selling a feature, show how your product:
Solves their problems
Saves them time or effort
Reduces stress
Makes them look good to their team
Try asking:
“What’s the most frustrating part of your week right now?”
That question builds more trust than any perfectly scripted pitch. It also gets your customer engaged in the conversation. Now you are solving their problems and they will help you do that.
Buyers Want Less Noise, More Clarity
Disengaged buyers are overwhelmed and over-messaged. The average inbox feels like a junk drawer. If your message adds complexity, it gets skipped. Start with a simple call to the problem. Get your customers onboard with helping you solve their problems. They do not need more features thrown at them. They need problems solved. Be the one that cuts through the noise.
That means:
Using plain, simple language
Keeping your outreach short and skimmable
Making it feel easy to say yes
Sometimes the smartest thing you can say is the simplest.
Action Step:
Audit your last sales email or call script. Ask:
Is this easy to skim?
Does it focus on them, not you?
Would a disengaged, stressed-out person read past the first sentence?
Make one update before you send it out to the next customers to make it short and sweet.
Additional Reading:
Are you looking to improve your sales process or hire your first sales professional?
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If so, we’re here to help! Reach out to us with your specific challenges, and we’ll schedule a time to discuss how we can develop a customized plan to meet your goals.
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