Halloween is a time of nostalgia — conjuring memories of fanciful costumes, trick-or-treating with friends, and fearlessly exploring the local haunted house. As we grow up, this holiday remains close to our hearts, albeit in a different form.

Despite the eerie reputation of Halloween, it serves as a moment for leaders to reflect and exorcise the terrors that threaten to turn their teams into real-life “zombies.” Look closely to be sure no mysterious creatures are roaming your company hallways or virtual meeting screen corners. Otherwise, you could discover some disengaged employees in that crowd, and suddenly you’re no longer watching a horror movie — you have found yourself in a very real and scary workplace.

Leadership shouldn’t be scary, but sometimes it is daunting. At its core, it’s about creating a unifying vision, establishing inspiring goals, connecting with people, and celebrating achievements along the way. Leaders must carve out time to make connection a priority.

In this issue, we unearth valuable lessons learned from the perils of leadership horrors and help you delve deep into the realms of personality to implement a formal hiring process so you don’t end up introducing any “Jasons” or “Freddys” that could potentially trigger a mass exodus of existing employees. There are also some tips in store to stop the terror of “ghosting” by both employers and candidates.

Nothing is scarier than disengaged employees and indifferent leaders in the workplace. Halloween provides a moment for everyone to embrace vital life lessons and approach every situation as an opportunity to discover more about yourself, others, and the world — to become a better, “scarier” version of yourself for good.

Happy Halloween! We wish you the best in keeping all of the horror at bay and out of your workplace.