It's an old joke. When a company president is asked how many employees work at his company, he responds, “About half of them.”

But employee engagement is no laughing matter today. Many companies are deeply involved in internal branding or other initiatives to help staffers unleash their talents and energy. Engaged employees give greater discretionary effort, produce more, and are highly motivated and proud of their companies. Yet, there's a long way to go for most companies. A Gallup survey several ...